Generation Hope #17: I was wondering how Asmus was going to bring Kenji's revolt to an end without essentially causing another schism between the X-Men on Utopia. The answer, that he had been manipulating everyone the whole time, was clever, because it made him into a clear hypocrite (and a more clear bad guy) and it isolated him as the sole agitator. It allowed for the revolt to die once he was eliminated, despite the fact that several people didn't really need his encouragement to revolt in the first place. (Along those lines, I was surprised we don't see a scene between Cyclops and Emma, since I'm pretty sure Emma fell in the "there of her own accord" camp, and you'd have to imagine Cyclops wouldn't have exactly been happy about that. But, I'm guessing we'll see that conversation, or a version of it, elsewhere during "Avengers vs. X-Men.") Asmus does a good job of showing real contrition on the part of Hope, something that pretty effectively brings this plot (Hope controlling the Lights) to an end. It'll be interesting to see where it all goes from here. Even if Hope does actually abide by her commitment not to use her power over the Lights in the future, the fact that she admitted having done so shows her potential as a threat (something of which we're not so subtly reminded by the photo of the Dark Phoenix in Shaw's file). Although the issue dragged at times under the weight of the necessary exposition, Asmus livened it up a bit with Gabriel and Pixie; I particularly liked Gabriel talking about his realization, when he became a superhero, that one of his friends would inevitably go through a super-villain phase and Pixie teleporting away Magneto. (Though, I will say, I thought Magneto was Team Hope, so I was confused that he seemed to be Team Kenji, particularly since I doubt Kenji could've successfully manipulated him.) Before I finish, let me rave
about Miyazawa's art. Wow. He draws pretty stark lines that add a
certain grimly realistic grativas to the scenes, something that matched
the tone of this issue perfectly. All in all, it
was a pretty good ending as we segue into "Avengers vs. X-Men."
When I first wrote this review, I hadn't realized the series had been canceled. I was actually planning on dropping it after "Avengers vs. X-Men," to be honest. I've always enjoyed it (except for, you know, Hope), but I was having a hard time justifying the $2.99 a month. To me, Gabriel was really the only break-out star and I hope we see him somewhere else soon. I'm figuring Laurie will appear at the Jean Grey School soon, since she pretty much only stayed to keep Hope honest, similar to Storm staying with Cyclops. All in all, it was a decent series that enjoyed consistently good writing and art and helped flesh out some important details about Hope while introducing some new characters into the fold. Not bad for 17 issues! Moreover, I hope Marvel keep Asmus and
Miyazawa together; I could particularly see them doing great work on a
new "Nova" series (hint, hint, Marvel).
New Mutants #39: This issue felt like the old-school "New Mutants" to me. Maybe it's because we've returned to Paradise Island, where the death of Doug occurred, something that scarred me as a teenager reading the old series. Maybe it's because the way the team behaved had a similar vibe, slightly less adult than they've been depicted lately (maybe because of all those raging hormones) but still fairly serious. Maybe because it still had elements of fun, despite the grim situation in which the team found itself, because of Warlock's fairly hilarious narration. (I loved when he kept focusing on smiling a lot in order to encourage the team to follow his leadership.) Maybe it's because DnA finally did something interesting with Amara and Bobby, something that made Bobby feel like Bobby and not the love-sick fool we've seen over the course of this new series. (When I say "finally," I don't mean it as a criticism of DnA, since they really just picked up this book. I mean it more as a criticism of the fact that we've been watching this largely one-side relationship burn up pages upon pages for the last 38 issues. Having Dani tell Nate that Amara does love Bobby, finally making it a two-way relationship, was a major step. It might not end with them getting together, but it at least moves forward this plot.) Maybe it's because DnA have Dani and Nate get caught holding hands, a juvenile moment to be sure, while at the same time using it to show the larger threat. But, at the end of the day, it felt like it used to feel reading the original "New Mutants" series, and I can't think of any higher praise than that.
Uncanny X-Men #9: Seriously, I'm starting to believe that Kieron Gillen isn't actually writing this series any more. Maybe he's like Tom Clancy or Clive Cussler or Robert Ludlum, and they just sort of slap his name on the book to get people to buy it, while the real work is done by an unnamed drone. At least, I'm at the point where I'm hoping it's the case, because it's just too difficult to believe that someone that used to write such fun and interesting stories is now producing such dull and formulaic drivel. I don't even know where to begin with this issue. First, the obvious statement is that an Avengers/X-Men team-up issue should not be this dull. It's hard to put my finger on the problem, exactly. I mean, the conceit of the issue -- tracking down villains who escaped from S.W.O.R.D.'s inter-galatic prison -- is pretty solid in terms of the possibility for a rollicking good time. But, in practice, this issue is remarkably dull. It could be because the actual action -- the team-up episodes themselves -- happens in a series of four panels. We're essentially told what happens; we never get to see it. You can tell it's a rush job in advance of "Avengers vs. X-Men," since I think it's clear that these stories could've been told in a much more enjoyable (and engaging) way over the course of five or six issues, not the two, maybe three, issues that we're going to get here. I mean, I would really like to see a Magneto/Spider-Man team-up story, not just get told that a lot of quips happened during it. Given how dreadfully dull the Tabula Rasa story was in the last few issues, I'm surprised Marvel wasted time with it and didn't green light using those issues and the ones actually dedicated to this arc to tell a pre-"Avengers vs. X-Men" story, the "last team-up" that we were promised in the promos. Then, we could've gotten the longer five- or six-issue arc, and I probably wouldn't have been left feeling cheated of an actual story. Second, I found it hard to take "Unit" seriously as a threat. I mean, he essentially looks like the Silver Surfer's board if the top half developed a body. His power appears to be controlling people, but he doesn't seem to have much else going in his favor. Moreover, he doesn't seem all that removed from the Savage from the Tabula Rasa story; we've got yet another alien who learned our language quickly. Seriously, I just don't know what else to say. I'll stay with this series through "Avengers vs. X-Men" and then I'm going to have to seriously re-assess whether I stay with it, something I never thought I'd be saying about "Uncanny X-Men." But, at $3.99, Marvel needs to offer me something better than it has.
X-Factor #233: I don't have a lot to say about this issue because it's standard David strong. I thought it was a great move getting the team off-site so that we delay the inevitable Alex/Madrox confrontation. Similarly, I enjoyed David underscoring the change by bringing in Val. I wonder if the team is going to break along Val and Wolverine lines, something that would definitely help David juggle ten characters on one team. At any rate, David manages to make progress on these various sub-plots while giving us a fun one-and-done story. Solid.
Showing posts with label Generation Hope (2011). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Generation Hope (2011). Show all posts
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
New Comics!: The X-Edition #3 of 5 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Generation Hope #15: Huh. I'm not really sure what to think about this issue. In terms of the issue itself, it's a compelling read. Asmus does a good job of keeping it on a low simmer and then eventually letting it explode, with Kenji leading a revolt against Hope thanks to help from Emma. It's the culmination of several months' worth of hints, and the only thing that left me feeling a bit cold was that it seems somewhat early in the series for the revolt to happen. But, I'm guessing it has something to do with the upcoming "A vs X" cross-over event, since Hope seems poised to play a significant role in it. Moreover, it's not like they haven't hinted that this day was coming, so I can't say it felt like it came from left field. My sense of unease probably comes more from the sense that we are more or less seeing how bad Hope is at keeping control of her team, which leads me to wonder why Cyclops does have the blind spot about her, as Emma mentions. Is it the family tie? It seems pretty clear she can't control her powers or herself, so it's weird that Scott has let it progress this far, to the point where he's blind to people leading a revolution against her. I'm intrigued to see where it goes next issue.
Wolverine and the X-Men #5: I thought this issue was just going to be a run-of-the-mill alien-baby story, with Kitty finding herself pregnant with one alien. I didn't expect that the Brood would've found a way to turn themselves into bacteria, particularly not in a way that could be specialized for a specific person, namely, Kitty, thereby make her "pregnant" with multiple aliens. It's unclear to me if the badass Brood that we saw at the end was involved with the targeting of Kitty or if he's just simply searching out the source of the infection. I guess we'll learn more next issue. I also found the other focus of this issue, Bobby and Logan's attempts to secure funding for the school, to be interesting. It always seemed implausible that Professor X was SO wealthy that the X-Men seemed to have everything they needed whenever they need it. (I still wonder how Utopia makes money...) I like that Aaron actually brings us down to Earth a little bit, or, um, sends us into space. Although I'm sure this story line will be dropped once Logan accomplishes whatever he winds up accomplishing here, at least someone at some point addressed it!
Wolverine and the X-Men #5: I thought this issue was just going to be a run-of-the-mill alien-baby story, with Kitty finding herself pregnant with one alien. I didn't expect that the Brood would've found a way to turn themselves into bacteria, particularly not in a way that could be specialized for a specific person, namely, Kitty, thereby make her "pregnant" with multiple aliens. It's unclear to me if the badass Brood that we saw at the end was involved with the targeting of Kitty or if he's just simply searching out the source of the infection. I guess we'll learn more next issue. I also found the other focus of this issue, Bobby and Logan's attempts to secure funding for the school, to be interesting. It always seemed implausible that Professor X was SO wealthy that the X-Men seemed to have everything they needed whenever they need it. (I still wonder how Utopia makes money...) I like that Aaron actually brings us down to Earth a little bit, or, um, sends us into space. Although I'm sure this story line will be dropped once Logan accomplishes whatever he winds up accomplishing here, at least someone at some point addressed it!
X-Men #24: OK, so pet peeve #2 is in full effect here, with the intro page telling us that the sexy vampire guy from last issue was Raizo Kodo. The problem with that reveal coming from the intro page is that we don't really get any information about him in the comic itself, something that would've been useful given that I had no idea who he was. (I had a hunch he was the vampire we saw in "X-Men" #11, something I confirmed thank to the Internet. See, Marvel. I used the Internet to confirm his origin. Can we now stop having you replay Clint's origin in every issue in which he appears?) Once I got over my annoyance, I more or less enjoyed the rest of the issue. It plays as a standard intervention narrative, but it's a clever way to move Jubilee past the "OMG, she's a vampire!" phase and turn her into a better character. I assume the next issue is going to set up the standard hero/hero misunderstanding battle. This series continues to provide consistently solid stories. They're never Earth-shattering or particularly insightful, but, just like this one, they're good reads. Given the state of the other X-books, Gischler deserves a not insignificant amount of credit for that.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
New Comics!: The "Regenesis" Edition #7 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
OK, "Wolverine and the X-Men" #4 finally arrived, so I can now make my way through my backlog of X-books. It appears that the issues in this review are the last ones branded with the "Regenesis" banner, so I guess it's the end of the beginning.
Generation Hope #15: This issue continues to set up Hope embracing her possible role as future host of the Phoenix Force. As Kenji and Laurie have speculated, Hope pretty clearly uses her power at the end of the issue to telepathically command every one to leave the battlefield. It's a powerful moment, because Asmus is unambiguous about the danger Hope could pose. Asmus also continues Gillen's practice of using Hope to question Scott's decisions, particularly the morally ambiguous ones. Whereas Scott might have been able to argue Shaw was a menace before Emma mind-wiped him, Hope manages to score some points in arguing that his role as a menace ended when Emma made the decision to be his judge, jury, and executioner. The only negative to this issue is that I only recognized Random of the group of malcontents who attack Hope's team. But, the attack itself worked well, given that it deepened the questions about the extent to which Scott is really in control of Utopia and Hope is really in control of her team. Neither Hope nor Scott leave this issue looking particularly good. Asmus also seems to set in mention the sub-plot that's been building for a while, namely Kenji's lack of total commitment to Hope. I'm not entirely sure if it's self-motivated, or if it's coming from the malcontent who attacked him, but I guess we'll see. All in all, it's another dark yet compelling issue of this series.
New Mutants #36: Huh. DnA manage to sell me on a story that features a heavy-metal rock band somehow coming into possession of a metal box that contained an alien ship powered by chaos energy that's trying, almost literally, to phone home. Go figure. (I believe they told us where the band got the box in the last issue, though I couldn't remember.) It's a decent issue. It's not Earth-shattering (heh, maybe it is) or anything, but it's a fun conclusion to the story arc. I liked what DnA did with Amara and Bobby here. Past authors have had Bobby following around Amara like a lonely, lovelorn puppy, but he's more the cocky, confident Bobby I recognize in this issue. Having just read "X-Factor" #230, I realize that the New Mutants play a similar role for Team Cyclops as X-Factor will for Team Wolverine, which inevitably leads me to hope for a cross-over event!
Wolverine and the X-Men #4: OK, Aaron does a pretty good job here of moving us past the somewhat mediocre opening arc by introducing a few new interesting elements. I thought he did a really great job of integrating the "Uncanny X-Force" characters, the young Apocalypse and the amnesiac Angel, in a way that didn't rely on obvious exposition. (I am hoping, however, that we don't go to the "future history" well too often, because it can get old seriously quickly.) I was also pleased that the students played a pretty prominent role in this issue, and I hope we stick to the "more Kid Gladiator, less Quentin Quire" formula. We also got some great moments with the teachers, particularly Bobby and Logan's conversations about Warren. I thought Aaron did a great job in general with Bobby, Hank, and Kitty all showing their disapproval of (and helplessness over) Logan's extra-curricular activities, but I thought Bobby challenging Logan when it came to Angel was the best. I have high hopes that Aaron is going to be the author that lets Bobby become the characters he's always had the potential to be, so I'm excited to see where this storyline goes. I was less thrilled by the "OMG, Kitty is pregnant" storyline, but, even though I have my doubts that it could be anything more than a clichéd alien-baby story, I guess I have to give Aaron the chance to prove me wrong. At any rate, Aaron seems to be settling into a rhythm in terms of dividing time between the teachers and the students that works for me.
X-Factor #230: Amazing issue. Amazing. First, David totally blew my mind with the idea that Madrox's power works by pulling in dupes from alternate realities. BLEW. MY. MIND. I'm pretty sure it's not going to be the resolution, but it's such a fascinating idea. Leave it to Peter David to turn even the not-resolutions into amazing plots. Second, the Layla/Wolverine scenes were really well done. We not only learn that Layla feels guilt for Jaime's death because she inadvertently caused it by resurrecting Guido, but we also get a really lovely moment between her and Wolverine, where she acknowledges that she's telling him her feelings because only he truly understands what it's like to be alone in the crowd. After suffering through a lot of pop psycho-babble in "Avenging Spider-Man" and "Venom" over the last few days, it was refreshing to see someone write emotions that felt neither excessively expository nor blatantly forced. Third, speaking of emotions, the fight the team has over what Layla did to Guido is both hilarious AND revealing. David did a great job using the debate to reveal the characters: Monet and Theresa fighting about religion, Rictor retorting, "Oh, look who's talking about making up minds!" when Shatterstar tells him he needs to make up his mind about his feelings for Rahne. It was all just amazing character work. Whereas authors like Bendis use characters interchangably like they're set pieces, David makes me forget sometimes that I'm not watching a reality TV show of real people. ("This is the true story...of seven superheroes...picked to live in a house...") The disputes that we see here come from real differences of opinions based on the characters' experencies in life. They're not just spouting lines that need to be said to move the plot forward; they're having real arguments about philosophical issues. It's so rare for an author to pull off team dynamics so well, particularly given how large the team is. But, I ended this book feeling like I knew this team all the better, despite the fact that I already knew them pretty well to start. Fourth (yup, I'm just going to keep on raving), Wolverine putting X-Factor on retainer was brilliant. It's the perfect solution to how they're going to stay X-Factor AND be part of the new "Regenesis" status quo. To sum: it's an amazing issue by an amazing writer of an amazing series.
X-Men Legacy #260.1: I was excited abou this issue before I opened it. I never really liked Carey's work, so I was pleased to see that this third core title would get a new creative team. Over the last few "meh" issues of "Uncanny X-Men" and "Wolverine and the X-Men," though, my hopes raised that this title would somehow give me the X-book I was hoping we'd see from "X-Men: Regenesis" but so far haven't. I wasn't disappointed. I feel like Gage gets the fact that the school is a school better even than Aaron, who's writing "Wolverine and the X-Men," given that he has Rogue adamantly refuse to allow the kids to skip class to fight the demons. The way he weaved the teachers' lessons (Beast's history of the N'Garai, Sam's lecture on ethics) into the battle was nothing short of brilliant. Plus, we essentially, honestly, get all my favorite X-Men. I was thrilled to see Cannonball, given that he's pretty much my favorite X-Man. I was also glad to see that Gage is also using the darkness that surrounds him after DnA's amazing "Fall/Rise of the New Mutants" arc. Whether or not he overcomes it is going to be the thing that eventually determines if he's the X-Men's next leader, as he's always been groomed to be, and I like how the jury still hasn't reached a verdict on it. It's given his character more depth than he's had in years. Plus, it's also great to see Marvel Girl, another favorite, really in the mix at this point. She's been so misused over the years, particularly when she wasn't used at all (and just sort of floated in space), that I'm really excited to have her re-enter the core titles. I also hope we continue to get Iceman. Great plot, great writing, great characters: thank God. The X-Men, for me, are back.
Generation Hope #15: This issue continues to set up Hope embracing her possible role as future host of the Phoenix Force. As Kenji and Laurie have speculated, Hope pretty clearly uses her power at the end of the issue to telepathically command every one to leave the battlefield. It's a powerful moment, because Asmus is unambiguous about the danger Hope could pose. Asmus also continues Gillen's practice of using Hope to question Scott's decisions, particularly the morally ambiguous ones. Whereas Scott might have been able to argue Shaw was a menace before Emma mind-wiped him, Hope manages to score some points in arguing that his role as a menace ended when Emma made the decision to be his judge, jury, and executioner. The only negative to this issue is that I only recognized Random of the group of malcontents who attack Hope's team. But, the attack itself worked well, given that it deepened the questions about the extent to which Scott is really in control of Utopia and Hope is really in control of her team. Neither Hope nor Scott leave this issue looking particularly good. Asmus also seems to set in mention the sub-plot that's been building for a while, namely Kenji's lack of total commitment to Hope. I'm not entirely sure if it's self-motivated, or if it's coming from the malcontent who attacked him, but I guess we'll see. All in all, it's another dark yet compelling issue of this series.
New Mutants #36: Huh. DnA manage to sell me on a story that features a heavy-metal rock band somehow coming into possession of a metal box that contained an alien ship powered by chaos energy that's trying, almost literally, to phone home. Go figure. (I believe they told us where the band got the box in the last issue, though I couldn't remember.) It's a decent issue. It's not Earth-shattering (heh, maybe it is) or anything, but it's a fun conclusion to the story arc. I liked what DnA did with Amara and Bobby here. Past authors have had Bobby following around Amara like a lonely, lovelorn puppy, but he's more the cocky, confident Bobby I recognize in this issue. Having just read "X-Factor" #230, I realize that the New Mutants play a similar role for Team Cyclops as X-Factor will for Team Wolverine, which inevitably leads me to hope for a cross-over event!
Wolverine and the X-Men #4: OK, Aaron does a pretty good job here of moving us past the somewhat mediocre opening arc by introducing a few new interesting elements. I thought he did a really great job of integrating the "Uncanny X-Force" characters, the young Apocalypse and the amnesiac Angel, in a way that didn't rely on obvious exposition. (I am hoping, however, that we don't go to the "future history" well too often, because it can get old seriously quickly.) I was also pleased that the students played a pretty prominent role in this issue, and I hope we stick to the "more Kid Gladiator, less Quentin Quire" formula. We also got some great moments with the teachers, particularly Bobby and Logan's conversations about Warren. I thought Aaron did a great job in general with Bobby, Hank, and Kitty all showing their disapproval of (and helplessness over) Logan's extra-curricular activities, but I thought Bobby challenging Logan when it came to Angel was the best. I have high hopes that Aaron is going to be the author that lets Bobby become the characters he's always had the potential to be, so I'm excited to see where this storyline goes. I was less thrilled by the "OMG, Kitty is pregnant" storyline, but, even though I have my doubts that it could be anything more than a clichéd alien-baby story, I guess I have to give Aaron the chance to prove me wrong. At any rate, Aaron seems to be settling into a rhythm in terms of dividing time between the teachers and the students that works for me.
X-Factor #230: Amazing issue. Amazing. First, David totally blew my mind with the idea that Madrox's power works by pulling in dupes from alternate realities. BLEW. MY. MIND. I'm pretty sure it's not going to be the resolution, but it's such a fascinating idea. Leave it to Peter David to turn even the not-resolutions into amazing plots. Second, the Layla/Wolverine scenes were really well done. We not only learn that Layla feels guilt for Jaime's death because she inadvertently caused it by resurrecting Guido, but we also get a really lovely moment between her and Wolverine, where she acknowledges that she's telling him her feelings because only he truly understands what it's like to be alone in the crowd. After suffering through a lot of pop psycho-babble in "Avenging Spider-Man" and "Venom" over the last few days, it was refreshing to see someone write emotions that felt neither excessively expository nor blatantly forced. Third, speaking of emotions, the fight the team has over what Layla did to Guido is both hilarious AND revealing. David did a great job using the debate to reveal the characters: Monet and Theresa fighting about religion, Rictor retorting, "Oh, look who's talking about making up minds!" when Shatterstar tells him he needs to make up his mind about his feelings for Rahne. It was all just amazing character work. Whereas authors like Bendis use characters interchangably like they're set pieces, David makes me forget sometimes that I'm not watching a reality TV show of real people. ("This is the true story...of seven superheroes...picked to live in a house...") The disputes that we see here come from real differences of opinions based on the characters' experencies in life. They're not just spouting lines that need to be said to move the plot forward; they're having real arguments about philosophical issues. It's so rare for an author to pull off team dynamics so well, particularly given how large the team is. But, I ended this book feeling like I knew this team all the better, despite the fact that I already knew them pretty well to start. Fourth (yup, I'm just going to keep on raving), Wolverine putting X-Factor on retainer was brilliant. It's the perfect solution to how they're going to stay X-Factor AND be part of the new "Regenesis" status quo. To sum: it's an amazing issue by an amazing writer of an amazing series.
X-Men Legacy #260.1: I was excited abou this issue before I opened it. I never really liked Carey's work, so I was pleased to see that this third core title would get a new creative team. Over the last few "meh" issues of "Uncanny X-Men" and "Wolverine and the X-Men," though, my hopes raised that this title would somehow give me the X-book I was hoping we'd see from "X-Men: Regenesis" but so far haven't. I wasn't disappointed. I feel like Gage gets the fact that the school is a school better even than Aaron, who's writing "Wolverine and the X-Men," given that he has Rogue adamantly refuse to allow the kids to skip class to fight the demons. The way he weaved the teachers' lessons (Beast's history of the N'Garai, Sam's lecture on ethics) into the battle was nothing short of brilliant. Plus, we essentially, honestly, get all my favorite X-Men. I was thrilled to see Cannonball, given that he's pretty much my favorite X-Man. I was also glad to see that Gage is also using the darkness that surrounds him after DnA's amazing "Fall/Rise of the New Mutants" arc. Whether or not he overcomes it is going to be the thing that eventually determines if he's the X-Men's next leader, as he's always been groomed to be, and I like how the jury still hasn't reached a verdict on it. It's given his character more depth than he's had in years. Plus, it's also great to see Marvel Girl, another favorite, really in the mix at this point. She's been so misused over the years, particularly when she wasn't used at all (and just sort of floated in space), that I'm really excited to have her re-enter the core titles. I also hope we continue to get Iceman. Great plot, great writing, great characters: thank God. The X-Men, for me, are back.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
New Comics!: The "Regenesis" Edition #5
I decided to take a little break from making my way through two months' worth of Spidey books to spend some time with the X-Men. I've left their stack for last in my "Let's read and review three weeks' worth of issues as fast as we can" exercise because my pusher (comic shop) accidentally left out "Wolverine and the X-Men" #4 in my last shipment. I initially thought I'd get it sooner, so I delayed reading the X-books. But, it's probably going to be a few weeks, and I've got at least seven books to read before I hit its sequential absence, so I figured no time like the present to start the show.
New Mutants #35: It took me a while to realize what DnA were doing here. By sending Blink and the New Mutants into a concert, it's a subtle reminder that "normal" young adults their age go to concerts all the time. The New Mutants, however, go to Limbo all the time, so you can sort of see why Dani notes that they'll "try" moshing. So, rather than this arc being just about some demonic rock band, DnA use said demonic rock band to remind us just how far the New Mutants have to go in terms of the "blending" Dani wants them to do with the rest of the world. Damn, they're good. In addition, DnA continue to soften the New Mutants' personalities and interactions. We got pretty grim during "Fall/Rise of the New Mutants," and DnA are taking us back a step, making everyone like one another again. I am really just so excited about their tenure on this series!
Uncanny X-Men #3: [Sigh.] When I read issues like this one, I'm left to wonder just how much control the marketing department at Marvel has over authors. This issue devolves into an advertisement for "Avengers vs. X-Men," with Sinister essentially having staged this entire fight merely to tell Hope that she'll become the Phoenix and Scott that he'll be more hated than even Sinister, outcomes, I'm left to assume, of this summer's event. To drive home the point, Gillen is left to have the characters make all sorts of thinly-veiled comments about the Avengers being "obsolete" and the X-Men becoming the "world's premiere superteam." It's all terribly boring. I'm honestly left with no real clear idea of why Sinister did what he did, how exactly Emma defeated him, why Sinister stopped doing what he was doing, and why the Dreaming Celestial was involved. "Disappointing" is probably too weak of a word. I like Kieron Gillen a lot. But, this issue just seemed to underline how "X-Men: Schism" and its successor, "X-Men: Regenesis," are too overtly a marketing exercise to promote the brand rather than an honest attempt to refresh the titles. Marvel needs to let the authors spend more time telling a coherent story and less time pitching an impending event.
Wolverine and the X-Men #3: Honestly, I'm good with just this exchange between Bobby and Logan: "There has to be a way to kill this thing!" "We're all ears, Professor Snikt." "Rachel, get Hank on the Iine." Heh. (Srsly, Professor Snikt. Heh.) But, Aaron goes beyond those quips to give us a pretty good story. I liked Kid Omega saving the day in the end while at the same time not compromising his street cred. Aaron moves him past the one-note prick he's been for most of his printed history. I also thought the idea of Krakoa becoming an X-Man was sharp. In fact, it makes you wonder just how different from Scott and his team Logan and his team are if their first response was to resort to violence when Krakoa attacked. (Aaron doesn't necessarily draw that line here, but I think it's an interesting point.) In truth, the kids so far are the most promising part of this story. I totally dig Kid Gladiator. I mean, sure, he's kind of a caricature at this point, but he's fun. Like I said in the "New Mutants" review above, we're leaving behind some pretty dark times in the X-books, so any sort of levity is a good thing. I'm equally fond of Brod, and I think Aaron will have plenty of opportunities to tell some great stories of Quentin trying to make friends. The only negative I have to mention is that I thought the deus ex machina of having the inspectors from the Department of Education lose their memories was a little much. Sure, Hank was charming, but, even if they didn't remember how it got that way, didn't they notice the school was in ruins? I mean, why bother including this sub-plot if it's just going to be resolved in, like, two panels by a mindwipe? But, it's early days, so I'm willing to cut Aaron some slack.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
New Comics!: The "Regenesis" Edition #3 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Generation Hope #13: First, I was excited to see that James Asmus is taking over this title. Gillen did amazing work with this title, but I also loved Asmus' "Escape from the Negative Zone" annual cross-over. In fact, I liked his version of Hope better than anyone's, including possibly Gillen's. He portrayed her as the arrogant teenager she is, and it worked. I'm glad to say, it also works here. Asmus picks up the personalities of the Lights so well, you'd be forgiven for thinking Gillen was still on board. But, he makes the characters his own fairly quickly. I'm intrigued by the Hope/Laurie dynamic. If they find a way to work together, they'll be a great pair. We see it here, with Hope reminding Laurie that sometimes you don't have time to plan, and Laurie reminding Hope that you should plan when you can because it results in better outcomes. If they don't find a way to work together...well, we'll see. I loved that he had Kenji fall in love instantly with No-Girl. It wasn't an obvious call, but it shows a real insight into his character, to know that Kenji would be drawn to her and her ability to manipulate the way people perceive the world. Velocidad is also great here ("Yeah, but one of them is Boom-Boom."), though we probably don't need him noting that his powers are killing him every issue, particularly since we only really established that he feels panicked by the prospect last issue. But, his "I'm a teenage boy, I should be hitting on girls while I can" schtick is great. Again, he could probably use some adult supervision (or at least an older brother figure) to help get him through this trouble. But, the lack of attention to him shows that Cyclops is really just interested in them as warriors, as we see in the opening of the book. I'm intrigued why the Cuckoos hid the newest Light from Hope, even though it appears it's because it's Sebastian Shaw's powers re-manifesting themselves. It's a great first issue for Asmus, and I'll definitely be there next issue.
New Mutants #34: So far, so great. DnA give us a fun start for the latest iteration of "New Mutants." First, looking at the overall story DnA are starting to tell here, I love the idea that the New Mutants are now living like "real" people, particularly with the proviso that Bobby isn't allowed to fund them. Are they all going to get jobs like Amara? Is Nate going to be a fry cook? Will Bobby be a bus driver? The mind boggles. I also like the Bobby/Nate dynamic. I'm hoping we're going to see them interract more, given that Bobby's only really itneracted with Amara for almost every other issue of this series. Moreover, forcusing on this arc in particularly, the next "loose end" case is awesome. I had't realized that we had resurrected Blink. I still remember how surprised I was at the end of "Phalanx Covenant" when they seemingly killed her, so I'm glad that, based on my Wikipedia reading, they managed to "resurrect" her in a way that more or less made sense (or, at least, as much sense as these sorts of things can make). She seems like an ideal candidate for membership in the "New Mutants," so I'm excited to see where DnA go with the story.
X-Men #21: This issue is just as fast-paced and fun as the last one. I'm even willing to overlook the sudden arrival of Symkarian jets that broke the no-fly zone and conveniently allowed War Machine to join the X-Men in their fight against the Sentinels. (How did the Symkarians discover that Puttanescaland had Sentinels? It wasn't like they took out an ad.) The revelation that the Puttanescans had been obtaining Sentinels thanks to the wealth they've stockpiled from uranium mining was cool, as was the revelation that the scientist had successfully reprogrammed Sentinels to think anyone the Puttanescans wanted was a mutant. This issue is picking put the thread of the disastrous disarmament conference that Scott and Wolverine attended in "X-Men: Schism," and in fact shows us that the world is the dangerous place Scott predicted -- for humans and mutants alike -- with this many Sentinels in play. Gischler manages to shows the Puttanescan governor's hatred of the Symkarians without getting too preachy, and it really instills the book with the sense that some serious shit is going to happen if the X-Men don't get their asses in gear (and maybe even if they do). Again, Gischler is making it really hard for me to drop this book...
Wolverine and the X-Men #2: Ok, wow. I certainly did not expect that the monster attacking the mansion was Krakoa. Excellent, excellent idea, Aaron. I mean, who better to kill Wolverine and his new school than the monster who Wolverine and the other "new" X-Men fought on their first mission? (I'm not entirely sure how it works, logistically, though. First, how did the Hellfire Club fit an island under the mansion? Is there enough room? Second, at the end of issue #1, he seems poised to eat the school. Yet, when this issue starts, he's nowhere to be seen, like he suddenly decided, mid-bite, to go somewhere else. Confusing.) I can't say I've been that fond of the kiddie Hellfire Club, but I might change my mind after this issue. Turning the school inspectors into Sauron and Wendigo? Sending "Frankenstein monsters with flamethrowers" after the X-Men? Wanting the students "charred and melted" so that Wolverine has to contemplate his failure every time he looks at them? I can respect the fact that these kids are not joking. It's been a while since the X-Men have faced a villain (or group of villains) this committed to evil, and I can be convinced that this new Hellfire Club could surpass the old one in terms of constituting a deadly constant threat to the X-Men. (I think I'm actually becoming fond of Kade and his downright evil-ness.)
Bachalo is pretty on fire in this issue. I have to make particular mention of his work as a colorist. I hadn't realized he colored last issue, but I had actually noticed the color, particularly the scene where Quentin was lying on the floor surrounded by markers that he had used to write "I'm a political prisoner" on the floor. I noticed, at the time, that the colorist had colored outside the lines; the red of the marker was a little past the black of the border. I thought it was interesting, but now, seeing Bachalo here, I realize it just adds to the kinetic sense of his art, the sense that the characters are literally breaking beyond their borders with action. I mean, yes, you get some of the usual problems with Bachalo. For example, I wasn't entirely certain what Bobby did, and it took me a second reading to realize he essentially went Multiple Man on himself. (I thought he had maybe taken control of the Frankentsein monsters.) But, the good outweighs the bad here, because Bachalo, as usual, just propels you through this issue at full speed. (Also, I LOVE Rachel's new look. Thank God she's not wearing a bikini top as a costume anymore.)
I also enjoyed Aaron's attention to the characters, particularly Bobby. As I think I've mentioned, I'm excited about this series in part because, to put it in Logan's words, I'm anxiously awaiting Bobby getting the chance to "step up." We see him do it here, not only in terms of his powers but also by kissing Kitty. I can't say that pairing ever dawned on me, but, now? I'm all for it. Team Kibby. I also loved Broo's infatuation with Idie, which I hope continues to be cute and endearing. All in all, a great issue that I'm going to have to read again to get all its nuances.
New Mutants #34: So far, so great. DnA give us a fun start for the latest iteration of "New Mutants." First, looking at the overall story DnA are starting to tell here, I love the idea that the New Mutants are now living like "real" people, particularly with the proviso that Bobby isn't allowed to fund them. Are they all going to get jobs like Amara? Is Nate going to be a fry cook? Will Bobby be a bus driver? The mind boggles. I also like the Bobby/Nate dynamic. I'm hoping we're going to see them interract more, given that Bobby's only really itneracted with Amara for almost every other issue of this series. Moreover, forcusing on this arc in particularly, the next "loose end" case is awesome. I had't realized that we had resurrected Blink. I still remember how surprised I was at the end of "Phalanx Covenant" when they seemingly killed her, so I'm glad that, based on my Wikipedia reading, they managed to "resurrect" her in a way that more or less made sense (or, at least, as much sense as these sorts of things can make). She seems like an ideal candidate for membership in the "New Mutants," so I'm excited to see where DnA go with the story.
X-Men #21: This issue is just as fast-paced and fun as the last one. I'm even willing to overlook the sudden arrival of Symkarian jets that broke the no-fly zone and conveniently allowed War Machine to join the X-Men in their fight against the Sentinels. (How did the Symkarians discover that Puttanescaland had Sentinels? It wasn't like they took out an ad.) The revelation that the Puttanescans had been obtaining Sentinels thanks to the wealth they've stockpiled from uranium mining was cool, as was the revelation that the scientist had successfully reprogrammed Sentinels to think anyone the Puttanescans wanted was a mutant. This issue is picking put the thread of the disastrous disarmament conference that Scott and Wolverine attended in "X-Men: Schism," and in fact shows us that the world is the dangerous place Scott predicted -- for humans and mutants alike -- with this many Sentinels in play. Gischler manages to shows the Puttanescan governor's hatred of the Symkarians without getting too preachy, and it really instills the book with the sense that some serious shit is going to happen if the X-Men don't get their asses in gear (and maybe even if they do). Again, Gischler is making it really hard for me to drop this book...
Wolverine and the X-Men #2: Ok, wow. I certainly did not expect that the monster attacking the mansion was Krakoa. Excellent, excellent idea, Aaron. I mean, who better to kill Wolverine and his new school than the monster who Wolverine and the other "new" X-Men fought on their first mission? (I'm not entirely sure how it works, logistically, though. First, how did the Hellfire Club fit an island under the mansion? Is there enough room? Second, at the end of issue #1, he seems poised to eat the school. Yet, when this issue starts, he's nowhere to be seen, like he suddenly decided, mid-bite, to go somewhere else. Confusing.) I can't say I've been that fond of the kiddie Hellfire Club, but I might change my mind after this issue. Turning the school inspectors into Sauron and Wendigo? Sending "Frankenstein monsters with flamethrowers" after the X-Men? Wanting the students "charred and melted" so that Wolverine has to contemplate his failure every time he looks at them? I can respect the fact that these kids are not joking. It's been a while since the X-Men have faced a villain (or group of villains) this committed to evil, and I can be convinced that this new Hellfire Club could surpass the old one in terms of constituting a deadly constant threat to the X-Men. (I think I'm actually becoming fond of Kade and his downright evil-ness.)
Bachalo is pretty on fire in this issue. I have to make particular mention of his work as a colorist. I hadn't realized he colored last issue, but I had actually noticed the color, particularly the scene where Quentin was lying on the floor surrounded by markers that he had used to write "I'm a political prisoner" on the floor. I noticed, at the time, that the colorist had colored outside the lines; the red of the marker was a little past the black of the border. I thought it was interesting, but now, seeing Bachalo here, I realize it just adds to the kinetic sense of his art, the sense that the characters are literally breaking beyond their borders with action. I mean, yes, you get some of the usual problems with Bachalo. For example, I wasn't entirely certain what Bobby did, and it took me a second reading to realize he essentially went Multiple Man on himself. (I thought he had maybe taken control of the Frankentsein monsters.) But, the good outweighs the bad here, because Bachalo, as usual, just propels you through this issue at full speed. (Also, I LOVE Rachel's new look. Thank God she's not wearing a bikini top as a costume anymore.)
I also enjoyed Aaron's attention to the characters, particularly Bobby. As I think I've mentioned, I'm excited about this series in part because, to put it in Logan's words, I'm anxiously awaiting Bobby getting the chance to "step up." We see him do it here, not only in terms of his powers but also by kissing Kitty. I can't say that pairing ever dawned on me, but, now? I'm all for it. Team Kibby. I also loved Broo's infatuation with Idie, which I hope continues to be cute and endearing. All in all, a great issue that I'm going to have to read again to get all its nuances.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
New Comics!: The "Regenesis" Edition #2 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Generation Hope #12: OK, I need to pare down my monthly pull-list, because, honestly, I can barely keep afloat with my reading at this point. I had identified this book and "X-Men" as the ones to go. I never really enjoyed the latter (and am not particularly interested in the current team), and, although I've always thought Gillen has done an amazing job with "Generation Hope," I figured I could skip it because it doesn't tie directly into the core books that closely. But, then Gillen writes an issue like this one, and I'm totally sucked into his world again. I thought this issue was one of the best books I've read all year. The stuff with Velocidad was great. It's actually proof positive that Scott is failing the kids. You've got a teenage boy totally afraid of dying young because his powers are slowly killing him and, because the adults won't level with him, he's starting to act impulsively. I mean, hello, recipe for disaster. But, no one notices. Velocidad tells Kenji, who's not exactly the type to worry, but no one else. As such, no one who can do anything to help him knows, because the adults don't care. Do you need any more proof that Logan was right? The rest of the issue is equally good. Scott and Kitty's conversation at the end is a highlight, not just because it shows the danger everyone knows we're facing with Hope, but because it shows how little control anyone has over the Lights. The next few months -- particularly with the addition of Pixie and the love triangle between her, Hope, and Velocidad -- are going to be interesting. I'm here to stay.
New Mutants #33: Of course it's Dani who's smart enough to reject, to put it in Warlock's words, the binary choice between Cyclops and Wolverine. I accept her argument that she's staying with Cyclops because he believes in her, but I love the fact that she feels the need not to be on Utopia (and under Scott's thumb) to stay true to herself and mission. DnA also do a great job with Nate here. Although I'm a little slightly skeeved by the, um, obvious, um, chemistry between Hope and Nate (even if they're not exactly blood relations), they do seem like a great fit (in a non-sexual way, hopefully). They both come at life from a similar perspective and you can tell they feel relieved to have someone to whom they can talk about their experiences who won't have to get over the time-travel confusion and the bizarre family ties. I'm hoping this iteration of the "New Mutants" is the last one for a while. We've gone through so many new starts over the last 30 or so issues, mainly because of the various events forced on the title. I'd dig it if they actually spent the next 30 or so issues in one place with one mission and one team. Here's hoping.
X-Men #20: OK, so, my plan to drop this title is complicated, yet AGAIN, by Gischler's excellent writing. His Spider-Man arc has been the highlight of this title for me, and he's gotten off this War Machine one to a great start. To be honest, though, I liked this issue not so much because of War Machine, who's mostly just annoyingly obstinate, but for Storm, who we finally see leading a X-Men team again. Moreover, Gischler gives us the sort of international intrigue and high espionage that I've been expecting -- and not really getting -- from "Secret Avengers." He picks up the thread from "X-Men: Schism," with the world suddenly flush with old Sentinels and new ones created by the Hellfire Club. The team is tracking down a shipment of stolen Sentinels (I'm unclear on whether they're old or new ones), who now appear to be this season's must-have accessories for every irredentist and separatist movement in the world. If this team is going to be a moral X-Force, if you will, fighting in the darkest corners of the X-Men's world, it's going to be hard to convince me to drop it. Damn you, Gischler. My wallet isn't talking to you.
New Mutants #33: Of course it's Dani who's smart enough to reject, to put it in Warlock's words, the binary choice between Cyclops and Wolverine. I accept her argument that she's staying with Cyclops because he believes in her, but I love the fact that she feels the need not to be on Utopia (and under Scott's thumb) to stay true to herself and mission. DnA also do a great job with Nate here. Although I'm a little slightly skeeved by the, um, obvious, um, chemistry between Hope and Nate (even if they're not exactly blood relations), they do seem like a great fit (in a non-sexual way, hopefully). They both come at life from a similar perspective and you can tell they feel relieved to have someone to whom they can talk about their experiences who won't have to get over the time-travel confusion and the bizarre family ties. I'm hoping this iteration of the "New Mutants" is the last one for a while. We've gone through so many new starts over the last 30 or so issues, mainly because of the various events forced on the title. I'd dig it if they actually spent the next 30 or so issues in one place with one mission and one team. Here's hoping.
X-Men #20: OK, so, my plan to drop this title is complicated, yet AGAIN, by Gischler's excellent writing. His Spider-Man arc has been the highlight of this title for me, and he's gotten off this War Machine one to a great start. To be honest, though, I liked this issue not so much because of War Machine, who's mostly just annoyingly obstinate, but for Storm, who we finally see leading a X-Men team again. Moreover, Gischler gives us the sort of international intrigue and high espionage that I've been expecting -- and not really getting -- from "Secret Avengers." He picks up the thread from "X-Men: Schism," with the world suddenly flush with old Sentinels and new ones created by the Hellfire Club. The team is tracking down a shipment of stolen Sentinels (I'm unclear on whether they're old or new ones), who now appear to be this season's must-have accessories for every irredentist and separatist movement in the world. If this team is going to be a moral X-Force, if you will, fighting in the darkest corners of the X-Men's world, it's going to be hard to convince me to drop it. Damn you, Gischler. My wallet isn't talking to you.
Friday, October 7, 2011
New Comics!: The X-Edition
Generation Hope #11: This issue is a weird one. In some ways, it's the culmination of tension that Gillen's been building for a while, with Laurie finally resisting Hope's control over her, a control that Gillen makes more clear than he previously has is intentional and not merely inspirational. The fight between them feels more organic -- and more intuitive -- than the one between Cyclops and Wolverine in "X-Men: Schism" #4 (detailed below). But, at the same time, it's still obviously motivated by the "X-Men: Schism" storyline. The conversation with the former "New X-Men" is a little...dull, mainly, I think, because at this point in the story Gillen fell into the trap that Aaron also faces, with the characters becoming more mouthpieces for philosophies than characters with emotions. I'm intrigued who's going to be on the team come "Generation Hope" #12.
X-Factor #225: Sometimes, I forget that Peter David is not a normal comic-book writer. I mean, we all know his dialogue and characterizations are top notch. But, he also exhibits a command over the past, present, and future of his characters that really makes this book as amazing as it is. Most writers would've left the resolution of last issue's surprise ending dangling for a few months (if they got to it at all). David, however, leaps right into the story in this issue. He occasionally drags on an arc an issue too long (I remember feeling a little bored during the middle of the Vegas arc and totally over the JJJ, Jr. arc by its end), but he does manage to keep momentum going between arcs. In the last few months, we've gone from the JJJ, Jr. mystery arc to the Rahne's baby arc to this new creepy one, and he's moved us fairly seemlessly between them. Moreover, not only does he not drop stories that he hints are coming, he also doesn't drop stories that have already happened. He's slowly but surely playing out the consequences of Layla's resurrection of Guido in the JJJ, Jr. arc (the scene where Madrox confronts her sotte voce was excellent), and it's pretty clear that the aftermath of Rahne rejecting her baby isn't going to be forgotten any time soon. All the better (yes, I'm raving at this point), he takes the time to keep even longer-simmering sub-plots moving. It seems we might soon get some long overdue answers about Layla and David may be the author that finally clarifies Longshot and Shatterstar's relationship. But, as if all these overarching reasons aren't proof enough that "X-Factor" is one of the best books on the market, the story itself in this issue is fun and intriguing. David plays up some jealousy on Shatterstar's part when Rictor runs to celebrate the use of his newly rediscovered powers with Rahne, and Madrox gets in some excellent one-liners. ("I don't actually, but I'm just acting on herd instinct.") Also, who expected Sarah to be resurrected and attack the team? All in all, an excellent issue of a spectacular series.
X-Men #18: Meh. I'm not really feeling this arc. I know I'm supposed to be all "OMG! The FF AND the X-Men! Doom and Magneto! OMG!" But, I'm just not. The reveal that Doom was playing Scorpius all along was pretty predictable. Although Gischler gives us some fun moments (I thoroughly enjoyed Emma and Scott's conversation), overall it's a pretty standard middle act of a "our heroes are in trouble" story.
X-Men: Schism #4: I've reserved judgment on this series for a while. The idea that the rivalry between Cyclops and Wolverine would eventually tear the team apart is one that makes intuititve sense to anyone who's read a "X-Men" comic at any point over the last 20 or so years. The problem, though, is that the positions that the two of them take do not make intuitive sense. At the end of the day, I simply do not buy Wolverine's sudden conversion to pacificism. I'm oversimplifying it, obviously. Aaron does attempt to reconcile Wolverine's position with his character, having Logan assert that he kills so children don't have to do so. But, this argument just doesn't make sense for the guy who taught Shadowcat and Jubilee how to fight. The problem is that, if you don't buy this divide between Cyclops and Wolverine, you don't buy the whole endeavor, which is where I find myself. The whole point of "Schism" is that, after it, we're going to get two camps of X-Men, each one aligned around a character -- Cyclops or Wolverine -- and the philosophy he embodies. The problem is that, even conceding Wolverine's newfound "no kids fighting" position, I don't really see that much difference between them. OK, Wolverine doesn't think children should be sent into battle. So, what? His side isn't going to have anyone under the age of 18? Is that it? Is this whole schism based around whether or not you get carded at the door of the X-Mansion? Once upon a time, I could've believed a world where Wolverine staked out a more aggressive position than Scott, but, given Cyclops' behavior over the last few years, even that approach would seem a stretch. The fact that the two of them have been so closely aligned lately makes this schism all the more confusing. Aaron (and the other X-book authors) haven't really been telling a story of Wolvie coming to a pacifist position over the last few months or years. As such, it feels rushed. He does raise the possibility, with the Jean conversation, that the schism might not really about philosophy at the end of the day. Maybe it's just about them hating each other, maybe it's just about Scott going too far, maybe it's just about the girl. At this point, though, I think it's time to wrap up this whole affair. Although it's a much tighter and better crafted story than "Fear Itself," I'm ready for it to end, just like "Fear Itself," so we can start telling interesting stories again.
X-Factor #225: Sometimes, I forget that Peter David is not a normal comic-book writer. I mean, we all know his dialogue and characterizations are top notch. But, he also exhibits a command over the past, present, and future of his characters that really makes this book as amazing as it is. Most writers would've left the resolution of last issue's surprise ending dangling for a few months (if they got to it at all). David, however, leaps right into the story in this issue. He occasionally drags on an arc an issue too long (I remember feeling a little bored during the middle of the Vegas arc and totally over the JJJ, Jr. arc by its end), but he does manage to keep momentum going between arcs. In the last few months, we've gone from the JJJ, Jr. mystery arc to the Rahne's baby arc to this new creepy one, and he's moved us fairly seemlessly between them. Moreover, not only does he not drop stories that he hints are coming, he also doesn't drop stories that have already happened. He's slowly but surely playing out the consequences of Layla's resurrection of Guido in the JJJ, Jr. arc (the scene where Madrox confronts her sotte voce was excellent), and it's pretty clear that the aftermath of Rahne rejecting her baby isn't going to be forgotten any time soon. All the better (yes, I'm raving at this point), he takes the time to keep even longer-simmering sub-plots moving. It seems we might soon get some long overdue answers about Layla and David may be the author that finally clarifies Longshot and Shatterstar's relationship. But, as if all these overarching reasons aren't proof enough that "X-Factor" is one of the best books on the market, the story itself in this issue is fun and intriguing. David plays up some jealousy on Shatterstar's part when Rictor runs to celebrate the use of his newly rediscovered powers with Rahne, and Madrox gets in some excellent one-liners. ("I don't actually, but I'm just acting on herd instinct.") Also, who expected Sarah to be resurrected and attack the team? All in all, an excellent issue of a spectacular series.
X-Men #18: Meh. I'm not really feeling this arc. I know I'm supposed to be all "OMG! The FF AND the X-Men! Doom and Magneto! OMG!" But, I'm just not. The reveal that Doom was playing Scorpius all along was pretty predictable. Although Gischler gives us some fun moments (I thoroughly enjoyed Emma and Scott's conversation), overall it's a pretty standard middle act of a "our heroes are in trouble" story.
X-Men: Schism #4: I've reserved judgment on this series for a while. The idea that the rivalry between Cyclops and Wolverine would eventually tear the team apart is one that makes intuititve sense to anyone who's read a "X-Men" comic at any point over the last 20 or so years. The problem, though, is that the positions that the two of them take do not make intuitive sense. At the end of the day, I simply do not buy Wolverine's sudden conversion to pacificism. I'm oversimplifying it, obviously. Aaron does attempt to reconcile Wolverine's position with his character, having Logan assert that he kills so children don't have to do so. But, this argument just doesn't make sense for the guy who taught Shadowcat and Jubilee how to fight. The problem is that, if you don't buy this divide between Cyclops and Wolverine, you don't buy the whole endeavor, which is where I find myself. The whole point of "Schism" is that, after it, we're going to get two camps of X-Men, each one aligned around a character -- Cyclops or Wolverine -- and the philosophy he embodies. The problem is that, even conceding Wolverine's newfound "no kids fighting" position, I don't really see that much difference between them. OK, Wolverine doesn't think children should be sent into battle. So, what? His side isn't going to have anyone under the age of 18? Is that it? Is this whole schism based around whether or not you get carded at the door of the X-Mansion? Once upon a time, I could've believed a world where Wolverine staked out a more aggressive position than Scott, but, given Cyclops' behavior over the last few years, even that approach would seem a stretch. The fact that the two of them have been so closely aligned lately makes this schism all the more confusing. Aaron (and the other X-book authors) haven't really been telling a story of Wolvie coming to a pacifist position over the last few months or years. As such, it feels rushed. He does raise the possibility, with the Jean conversation, that the schism might not really about philosophy at the end of the day. Maybe it's just about them hating each other, maybe it's just about Scott going too far, maybe it's just about the girl. At this point, though, I think it's time to wrap up this whole affair. Although it's a much tighter and better crafted story than "Fear Itself," I'm ready for it to end, just like "Fear Itself," so we can start telling interesting stories again.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
New Comics!: The X-Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Generation Hope #10: We get the first of two "Schism" tie-in issues here, with Gillen fleshing out the events surrounding Idie saving the X-Men in "X-Men: Schism" #3. Although I outline my issues with that issue down below, Gillen does a good job here of keeping the focus on Idie. Although no one explicitly says it, it seems evident that Idie is forced to kill mainly due to her inability to control her powers more fully. Laurie hints at that during her fight with Hope, who blames her for leaving behind Idie and putting her in that situation. In response, Laurie notes that none of them are as good at being superheroes as they are when they're around Hope. Gillen has been building this theme for a while, implying that Hope's influence (or control) over the Lights might mean that her powers go beyond power mimicry. (Idie and Laurie have a conversation about how Hope looks like Rachel Summers, underlining the possibility that Hope is more connected to the Summers/Greys -- and the Phoenix Force -- than anyone knows, something the X-editors clearly have wanted us to believe since she came on the scene.) As such, Gillen achieves the rare tie-in issue bifecta, developing the overall "Schism" story while at the same time furthering the story running through "Generation Hope." It'll be interesting to see how both develop. I'd be remiss if I also didn't note the poignancy of the exhibits in the Museum of Mutant History. From the Sentinel's head to Rachel's interview, Gillen makes it all feel...real. It's hard to put my finger on it exactly, but something about the way he presents it made me feel like I was actually in the museum. All in all, another excellent outing for Mr. Gillen.
X-Factor #224: Holy crap! This issue was intense. David barely even pauses to set up the story, throwing us straight into the action. Even given the high bar David consistently sets, I'm still impressed by how well he did in this arc keeping all the moving pieces in order. I didn't have to constantly refer to previous issues to remember what was happening, even though he was juggling several different groups acting independently of one another throughout the storyline. All in all, this arc told a gripping story with some great moments. (The image of Rahne's child, with his glowing eyes, standing over Agamemnon's body was awesome, both creepy and hilarious at the same time.) In the end, Peter doesn't dismiss the child as a mere psychopath, though. We see the shock on its face when Rahne rejects it, and we also see it crawling to Werewolf by Night in obvious need of attention. It's clearly not the last we hear of him, or, in all likelihood, Agamemnon, who's clearly someone we know...we just don't know we know him. All in all, a stellar arc and a nice recovery from the disappointing preceding JJJ, Jr. arc.
X-Men #16: Woot! This issue rocked. I'm hard pressed to decide what I liked more. First, Gischler is a dialogue genius. The Thing/Wolverine banter is truly excellent. (Thing: "I guess that was more like a home run special. For the dinosaur." Wolverine: "Never throw me again.") I mean, you even have Cyclops/Magneto banter, which, honest to God, I thought was impossible to make sound authentic and not forced. (Cyclops: "You knew Lee, too. No comment?" Magneto: "That's ancient history. I'm a different person now. Mostly.") Last but certainly not least, in terms of examples of Gischler's knack for dialogue, you get a truly fantastic upset Emma. ("This is exactly why I either destroyed, mind-wiped or killed all my exes. They're nothing but trouble.") In Gischler's hands, she's really becoming my favorite character, which is saying a lot, since she had always been my least favorite.
Second, Gischler manages to keep the plot coherent despite -- in fact, amazingly, because of -- the numerous characters involved. By the end of the issue, he's juggling ten characters. But, it gives him some moments to shine. The Pixie/Thing/Wolverine team is more fun than I thought it could be. You can feel Pixie's excitement at playing in the big leagues. Dr. Doom is awesome as always, and I can't wait to see the trouble that the rest of the team -- Cyclops, Emma, Invisible Woman, and Magneto -- can find. The idea that the distress signal that Lee Forrester sent was sent over three years ago just makes it all the more intriguing.
Finally, the art is spectacular. Molina does an amazing job making the alternate dimension pop. The two-page spread actually startled me it was so beautifully done, fully conveying the impact of the strange land, unlike most splash pages, which, to me, often feel gratuitous. Plus, you've got Scott Summers looking hotter than he has, ever. (See page 4 if you don't believe me. Wow.)
As I said, this issue rocked, as I think (hope), this storyline will. Gischler BRINGS it here. I first thought the Dr. Doom/Magneto, FF/X-Men team-up gimmick was going to suck, but he really sells it. After the disappointing finish to the Evolutionaries saga, it's nice to see Gischler re-charge here. Hopefully, he'll be able to keep his attention on the story and not lose focus like he did with the Evolutionaries saga. But, it's a hell of a start. This issue is a contender for issue of the year, in my book.
X-Men: Schism #3: Huh. This issue was a little odd, to be honest. First, I'm not sure if I'm buying the kiddie Hellfire Club. It's one thing for there to be one genius super-kid, but four seems a bit of a stretch. However, more importantly, I don't know if I buy the Cyclops/Wolverine fight over Idie. It almost seems like they're on the wrong side of the argument. Both Aaron and Gillen have pushed this idea -- Aaron here and Gillen in "Generation Hope" #9 -- that Wolverine views what he does as something that children should not do. I certainly agree, but I'm not entirely sure I buy it from Wolverine. Plus, Cyclops is right: Wolverine didn't get there in time, so should Idie just have let everyone -- including herself, more than likely -- die in the explosion? Given that, in "Messiah Complex," we saw that Wolverine was willing to stake out even more of a lethal position than Cyclops (leading him to keep clandestinely running X-Force), this "Wolverine isn't down with killing" position seems odd. I mean, if we're seeing a split between Cyclops and Wolverine, what position is he going to take? How does his philosophy differ from Cyclops'? Before this event, I assumed it was because Logan advocated taking a harder line than Scott -- since, you know, he pretty much has for the last 40 years -- but Aaron seems to be going the other way, which strikes me as a significant departure for both characters. Why the change of heart? This question isn't inconsequential, since it's the core reason why this whole event is relevant. I don't know if Aaron's really laying the groundwork he needs to lay to sell it.
X-Men Legacy #254: Similar to Rogue and her team, we don't have a lot of insight into the back story that frames this issue. Rogue apparently knows the Shi'ar who "kidnap" her, but I'm not sure from where. Havok and Polaris appear at the end, but appear to be on the wrong side of the fight, if you assume that the Shi'ar are on the right side. I'm still making my way through the various "cosmic" event series ("War of Kings," etc.) that happened over the last few years, and I may have to track down "Emperor Vulcan" just so I can have a sense of how Havok and company found themselves in their current circumstances. Without that background, though, I have to say that I found this issue to be confusing. It's not Carey's fault, given that he's dealing with five years or so of storylines. But, I have to say that Kieron Gillen did a better job giving us a sense of the issues surrounded the Breakworld saga when he introduced it into "Uncanny X-Men" than Carey does here with the Starjammers. Hopefully, as Carey makes the story his own, it will improve.
X-Factor #224: Holy crap! This issue was intense. David barely even pauses to set up the story, throwing us straight into the action. Even given the high bar David consistently sets, I'm still impressed by how well he did in this arc keeping all the moving pieces in order. I didn't have to constantly refer to previous issues to remember what was happening, even though he was juggling several different groups acting independently of one another throughout the storyline. All in all, this arc told a gripping story with some great moments. (The image of Rahne's child, with his glowing eyes, standing over Agamemnon's body was awesome, both creepy and hilarious at the same time.) In the end, Peter doesn't dismiss the child as a mere psychopath, though. We see the shock on its face when Rahne rejects it, and we also see it crawling to Werewolf by Night in obvious need of attention. It's clearly not the last we hear of him, or, in all likelihood, Agamemnon, who's clearly someone we know...we just don't know we know him. All in all, a stellar arc and a nice recovery from the disappointing preceding JJJ, Jr. arc.
X-Men #16: Woot! This issue rocked. I'm hard pressed to decide what I liked more. First, Gischler is a dialogue genius. The Thing/Wolverine banter is truly excellent. (Thing: "I guess that was more like a home run special. For the dinosaur." Wolverine: "Never throw me again.") I mean, you even have Cyclops/Magneto banter, which, honest to God, I thought was impossible to make sound authentic and not forced. (Cyclops: "You knew Lee, too. No comment?" Magneto: "That's ancient history. I'm a different person now. Mostly.") Last but certainly not least, in terms of examples of Gischler's knack for dialogue, you get a truly fantastic upset Emma. ("This is exactly why I either destroyed, mind-wiped or killed all my exes. They're nothing but trouble.") In Gischler's hands, she's really becoming my favorite character, which is saying a lot, since she had always been my least favorite.
Second, Gischler manages to keep the plot coherent despite -- in fact, amazingly, because of -- the numerous characters involved. By the end of the issue, he's juggling ten characters. But, it gives him some moments to shine. The Pixie/Thing/Wolverine team is more fun than I thought it could be. You can feel Pixie's excitement at playing in the big leagues. Dr. Doom is awesome as always, and I can't wait to see the trouble that the rest of the team -- Cyclops, Emma, Invisible Woman, and Magneto -- can find. The idea that the distress signal that Lee Forrester sent was sent over three years ago just makes it all the more intriguing.
Finally, the art is spectacular. Molina does an amazing job making the alternate dimension pop. The two-page spread actually startled me it was so beautifully done, fully conveying the impact of the strange land, unlike most splash pages, which, to me, often feel gratuitous. Plus, you've got Scott Summers looking hotter than he has, ever. (See page 4 if you don't believe me. Wow.)
As I said, this issue rocked, as I think (hope), this storyline will. Gischler BRINGS it here. I first thought the Dr. Doom/Magneto, FF/X-Men team-up gimmick was going to suck, but he really sells it. After the disappointing finish to the Evolutionaries saga, it's nice to see Gischler re-charge here. Hopefully, he'll be able to keep his attention on the story and not lose focus like he did with the Evolutionaries saga. But, it's a hell of a start. This issue is a contender for issue of the year, in my book.
X-Men: Schism #3: Huh. This issue was a little odd, to be honest. First, I'm not sure if I'm buying the kiddie Hellfire Club. It's one thing for there to be one genius super-kid, but four seems a bit of a stretch. However, more importantly, I don't know if I buy the Cyclops/Wolverine fight over Idie. It almost seems like they're on the wrong side of the argument. Both Aaron and Gillen have pushed this idea -- Aaron here and Gillen in "Generation Hope" #9 -- that Wolverine views what he does as something that children should not do. I certainly agree, but I'm not entirely sure I buy it from Wolverine. Plus, Cyclops is right: Wolverine didn't get there in time, so should Idie just have let everyone -- including herself, more than likely -- die in the explosion? Given that, in "Messiah Complex," we saw that Wolverine was willing to stake out even more of a lethal position than Cyclops (leading him to keep clandestinely running X-Force), this "Wolverine isn't down with killing" position seems odd. I mean, if we're seeing a split between Cyclops and Wolverine, what position is he going to take? How does his philosophy differ from Cyclops'? Before this event, I assumed it was because Logan advocated taking a harder line than Scott -- since, you know, he pretty much has for the last 40 years -- but Aaron seems to be going the other way, which strikes me as a significant departure for both characters. Why the change of heart? This question isn't inconsequential, since it's the core reason why this whole event is relevant. I don't know if Aaron's really laying the groundwork he needs to lay to sell it.
X-Men Legacy #254: Similar to Rogue and her team, we don't have a lot of insight into the back story that frames this issue. Rogue apparently knows the Shi'ar who "kidnap" her, but I'm not sure from where. Havok and Polaris appear at the end, but appear to be on the wrong side of the fight, if you assume that the Shi'ar are on the right side. I'm still making my way through the various "cosmic" event series ("War of Kings," etc.) that happened over the last few years, and I may have to track down "Emperor Vulcan" just so I can have a sense of how Havok and company found themselves in their current circumstances. Without that background, though, I have to say that I found this issue to be confusing. It's not Carey's fault, given that he's dealing with five years or so of storylines. But, I have to say that Kieron Gillen did a better job giving us a sense of the issues surrounded the Breakworld saga when he introduced it into "Uncanny X-Men" than Carey does here with the Starjammers. Hopefully, as Carey makes the story his own, it will improve.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
New Comics!: The X-Edition
Generation Hope #9: The fact that Gillen basically gives us a “It Gets Better” video in comic-book form without wading too deep into the “After-School Special” end of the pool is a testament to his skill as a writer. This issue blends together a number of real-life stories involving teenagers pushed to suicide by their peers in order to deliver us Hope’s first failure. Although Gillen manages to present the story in a fairly grounded way, I think he’s still got to be careful not to go to the “It Gets Better” well too often. For example, I’m on the fence about the Kenji/Logan conversation. On the face of it, it’s extremely well done, with both characters staying totally in character: Logan is exactly the right person to talk to Kenji, who’s always been the darkest member of the team, about the consequences of murder. Logan treats him as a colleague, but also a teenager who's contemplating something that, from his experience, Logan knows he's not ready to handle. However, that said, the whole idea of Logan literally telling Kenji “it gets better” comes really, really close to eye-roll inducing. Again, Gillen manages not entirely to go there, but I think I’d rather us return to Kenji and Laurie’s suspicions that Hope is manipulating them and other stories related to the relationships between the characters than spend too much more time focused on the horrors of being a teenage mutant. That ground has been covered so well by so many others that it’s not going to be enough to sustain this series. However, the relationships will, and, after this detour, I think Gillen should return to focusing on those.
New Mutants #27: Dani goes fist-to-fist with the Sugar Man, capturing him while Bobby and Amara battle Sugar Man's mutates and Doug and Warlock free Nate Grey. It's a pretty satisfying conclusion to the storyline, with a newly de-powered Nate returned to the X-Men and Dani getting to show up Victoria Hand. I will say, however, that we need a little more character development in the non-Dani department in future issues. I love Dani, but this arc read more like a solo series than a team book. Since this series re-started, Amara and Bobby have been little more than pawns on the chess board. With Sam, Illyana, and Xi'an in the background and Doug unlikely to develop a personality any time soon, it's time to give these two some screen time.
New Mutants #28: This issue is great. Dani brings in a therapist who used to work in her community in Colorado to help with the more troubled members of the New Mutants team. DnA's work with Cannonball here was the most interesting to me. Across three writers – Wells, Carey, and DnA – we’ve seen a slow but steady push to bring Cannonball's character to the next level. Wells laid the foundation in the “Fall/Rise of the New Mutants” arc, with Sam losing all control in the face of brutal torture and overwhelming odds. Carey went the other way, showing Sam as the extremely capable field leader of the X-Men during “Age of X.” DnA are now reconciling those two extremes and, hopefully, setting up his return as the leader he’s had the potential to be since the “New Mutants” graphic novel. Meanwhile, DnA’s treatment of Nate Grey is equally fascinating. By essentially de-powering him, they’ve made him even more like Cable, who also had limited telekinesis abilities as a result of constantly fighting off the techno-organic virus. I’m excited to see him become part of the team, because I’ve always liked him (and, incidentally, finally got my hands on “X-Man” #1, the only “Age of Apocalypse” issue I had been missing). Finally, DnA give us some insight into Magik, confirming that she is actually interested in redemption and (allegedly) not plotting something darker. All in all, it was a really stellar issue of characterization and I continue to be excited about where they're taking the series.
X-Factor #222: This issue is...odd. The characterizations were kind of bizarre, almost like someone other than Peter David wrote the issue. Rictor yelling at Rahne seemed completely out of character for him, particularly since, as far as I'm aware, they had resolved the issues between them several issues ago. Rahne slapping Rictor for apologizing for yelling at her was equally weird. She's mad at him...because he apologized to her? What? I liked the first few issues of this arc, and I'm intrigued to see where it's going, but this issue doesn't really advance the plot much. It leaves you mostly just wondering why everyone was in such a bad mood and feeling like you missed an issue.
X-Men #14: A lot is going on here, and I’m not entirely sure I follow it. The back-and-forth between the past and present is starting to remind me (in a bad way) of the recent 1950s Avengers storyline in “New Avengers.” It’s getting hard to keep all the plot details straight. For example, in the past, the Scarlet Witch gave the X-Men Emma Frost’s name and location so they could stop Magneto from getting her. You’d think Magneto would figure out that happened when the X-Men appear at the institute where Emma is being held just in time to battle him, but he doesn’t seem angry at Wanda when they all later rendezvous at the Mansion. So, either Magneto didn’t put two and two together (which seems unlikely, but possible, I guess) or Wanda sent them to the institute on purpose to clear out the Mansion. The problem is that Yost doesn’t really do a great job of giving us enough information to decide which is which. In the present, I’m still not entirely sure who the three mutants attacking the Stepford Cuckoo on Cerebro are and what their motivation is. They want to know more about the Evolutionaries, but why? Who are they? I don’t recognize them from anywhere, so they can’t be major players. I like Yost, and the previous issues in this arc have been pretty good, but I feel like Yost loses some focus here. It’s time to address some of the question marks before the failure to do so starts to get really, really annoying.
X-Men #15: Meh. This arc really started with a lot of potential, but, I have to say, I’m kind of disappointed with the ending. First, Yost actually leaves some dangling threads. For example, who were, exactly, the three mutants who attacked the Stepford Cuckoo? After she blasted Cyclops' memory to everyone on Utopia, we never see her – or the villains – again. Also, if Beast’s machine killed all the Evolutionaries other than the prime Evolutionary in the past, then who are the other ones – the yellow ones – who accompany him in the present? I mean, where did he find more Evolutionaries? Did the Eternal make more? Also (again), how did Jean "remind" Scott of the events of the past? At first it seemed like she was actually the one to hide the memories, but, with the reveal of this issue, it's clear she wasn't. So, how exactly, if she's dead (allegedly) did she know to activate Scott's memory in the present at just the right time? Second, I don’t know if I buy some of the characterizations. For example, it’s revealed that Magneto didn’t realize that Wanda had in fact betrayed him by telling the X-Men the location of Emma Frost, which, frankly, I don’t really know if I believe. Also, the Evolutionary decides to betray his millennia of training and preparation to kill Cyclops? Really? Finally, what happened to the cliffhanger in issue #14? Magneto asks Scott what he did, as if the memory that the Stepford Cuckoo shared showed Scott make some deeply reckless or suspicious decision. Um, as far as I can tell, he merely asked the Evolutionary for more time. I can't say it's exactly shocking. The most interesting part of this issue was Scott's decision to activate the newly re-made Beast weapon, which results in the death (again) of all the Evolutionaries but the prime one. That characterization is more or less in line with the Scott we’ve seen over the last few years, but, as Iceman notes, it’s definitely a departure from the X-Men’s usual “no killing” pledge. However, it makes me wonder what's going to happen in "Schism." If Scott is ordering the deaths of the Evolutionaries, is he really THAT far apart from Logan philosophically? Overall, I’m glad this arc is finished. Looking over the last fifteen issues, I’m pretty disappointed with this title. The Spider-Man cross-over was really the only arc I’ve fully enjoyed from start to finish at this point. Given that I’m usually disappointed in “X-Men Legacy,” I continue to wonder if Marvel hasn’t really stretched itself too thin when it comes to the X-Men, focusing on quantity over quality.
X-Men Legacy #252: I haven’t necessarily been thrilled with this arc so far, but, I have to say, this issue made me re-assess that position. Frenzy actually gets some moments here – dare I say, even some funny moments – and Legion actually does something more than cower. I’m actually really looking forward to seeing where Carey goes with this story. Who would’ve thought it?
New Mutants #27: Dani goes fist-to-fist with the Sugar Man, capturing him while Bobby and Amara battle Sugar Man's mutates and Doug and Warlock free Nate Grey. It's a pretty satisfying conclusion to the storyline, with a newly de-powered Nate returned to the X-Men and Dani getting to show up Victoria Hand. I will say, however, that we need a little more character development in the non-Dani department in future issues. I love Dani, but this arc read more like a solo series than a team book. Since this series re-started, Amara and Bobby have been little more than pawns on the chess board. With Sam, Illyana, and Xi'an in the background and Doug unlikely to develop a personality any time soon, it's time to give these two some screen time.
New Mutants #28: This issue is great. Dani brings in a therapist who used to work in her community in Colorado to help with the more troubled members of the New Mutants team. DnA's work with Cannonball here was the most interesting to me. Across three writers – Wells, Carey, and DnA – we’ve seen a slow but steady push to bring Cannonball's character to the next level. Wells laid the foundation in the “Fall/Rise of the New Mutants” arc, with Sam losing all control in the face of brutal torture and overwhelming odds. Carey went the other way, showing Sam as the extremely capable field leader of the X-Men during “Age of X.” DnA are now reconciling those two extremes and, hopefully, setting up his return as the leader he’s had the potential to be since the “New Mutants” graphic novel. Meanwhile, DnA’s treatment of Nate Grey is equally fascinating. By essentially de-powering him, they’ve made him even more like Cable, who also had limited telekinesis abilities as a result of constantly fighting off the techno-organic virus. I’m excited to see him become part of the team, because I’ve always liked him (and, incidentally, finally got my hands on “X-Man” #1, the only “Age of Apocalypse” issue I had been missing). Finally, DnA give us some insight into Magik, confirming that she is actually interested in redemption and (allegedly) not plotting something darker. All in all, it was a really stellar issue of characterization and I continue to be excited about where they're taking the series.
X-Factor #222: This issue is...odd. The characterizations were kind of bizarre, almost like someone other than Peter David wrote the issue. Rictor yelling at Rahne seemed completely out of character for him, particularly since, as far as I'm aware, they had resolved the issues between them several issues ago. Rahne slapping Rictor for apologizing for yelling at her was equally weird. She's mad at him...because he apologized to her? What? I liked the first few issues of this arc, and I'm intrigued to see where it's going, but this issue doesn't really advance the plot much. It leaves you mostly just wondering why everyone was in such a bad mood and feeling like you missed an issue.
X-Men #14: A lot is going on here, and I’m not entirely sure I follow it. The back-and-forth between the past and present is starting to remind me (in a bad way) of the recent 1950s Avengers storyline in “New Avengers.” It’s getting hard to keep all the plot details straight. For example, in the past, the Scarlet Witch gave the X-Men Emma Frost’s name and location so they could stop Magneto from getting her. You’d think Magneto would figure out that happened when the X-Men appear at the institute where Emma is being held just in time to battle him, but he doesn’t seem angry at Wanda when they all later rendezvous at the Mansion. So, either Magneto didn’t put two and two together (which seems unlikely, but possible, I guess) or Wanda sent them to the institute on purpose to clear out the Mansion. The problem is that Yost doesn’t really do a great job of giving us enough information to decide which is which. In the present, I’m still not entirely sure who the three mutants attacking the Stepford Cuckoo on Cerebro are and what their motivation is. They want to know more about the Evolutionaries, but why? Who are they? I don’t recognize them from anywhere, so they can’t be major players. I like Yost, and the previous issues in this arc have been pretty good, but I feel like Yost loses some focus here. It’s time to address some of the question marks before the failure to do so starts to get really, really annoying.
X-Men #15: Meh. This arc really started with a lot of potential, but, I have to say, I’m kind of disappointed with the ending. First, Yost actually leaves some dangling threads. For example, who were, exactly, the three mutants who attacked the Stepford Cuckoo? After she blasted Cyclops' memory to everyone on Utopia, we never see her – or the villains – again. Also, if Beast’s machine killed all the Evolutionaries other than the prime Evolutionary in the past, then who are the other ones – the yellow ones – who accompany him in the present? I mean, where did he find more Evolutionaries? Did the Eternal make more? Also (again), how did Jean "remind" Scott of the events of the past? At first it seemed like she was actually the one to hide the memories, but, with the reveal of this issue, it's clear she wasn't. So, how exactly, if she's dead (allegedly) did she know to activate Scott's memory in the present at just the right time? Second, I don’t know if I buy some of the characterizations. For example, it’s revealed that Magneto didn’t realize that Wanda had in fact betrayed him by telling the X-Men the location of Emma Frost, which, frankly, I don’t really know if I believe. Also, the Evolutionary decides to betray his millennia of training and preparation to kill Cyclops? Really? Finally, what happened to the cliffhanger in issue #14? Magneto asks Scott what he did, as if the memory that the Stepford Cuckoo shared showed Scott make some deeply reckless or suspicious decision. Um, as far as I can tell, he merely asked the Evolutionary for more time. I can't say it's exactly shocking. The most interesting part of this issue was Scott's decision to activate the newly re-made Beast weapon, which results in the death (again) of all the Evolutionaries but the prime one. That characterization is more or less in line with the Scott we’ve seen over the last few years, but, as Iceman notes, it’s definitely a departure from the X-Men’s usual “no killing” pledge. However, it makes me wonder what's going to happen in "Schism." If Scott is ordering the deaths of the Evolutionaries, is he really THAT far apart from Logan philosophically? Overall, I’m glad this arc is finished. Looking over the last fifteen issues, I’m pretty disappointed with this title. The Spider-Man cross-over was really the only arc I’ve fully enjoyed from start to finish at this point. Given that I’m usually disappointed in “X-Men Legacy,” I continue to wonder if Marvel hasn’t really stretched itself too thin when it comes to the X-Men, focusing on quantity over quality.
X-Men Legacy #252: I haven’t necessarily been thrilled with this arc so far, but, I have to say, this issue made me re-assess that position. Frenzy actually gets some moments here – dare I say, even some funny moments – and Legion actually does something more than cower. I’m actually really looking forward to seeing where Carey goes with this story. Who would’ve thought it?
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
New Comics!: The X-Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Generation Hope #8: For the first 9/10 of this book, Gillen gives us a fairly typical "Generation Hope" story, with the Lights supporting Hope in her efforts to get Teon to stay with them. However, he throws what could be the curve ball of the year in the last 1/10, when Kenji and Laurie realize that Hope may well be sub-consciously (or consciously) forcing them to follow her. Gillen has toed this line extremely well for the entire series, not losing sight of the fact that the other side of Hope's potential future is that she would kill millions of humans and give rise to the bleak future of Bishop. (He also had previously given us a physical reminder of Hope's darker side when we see a flash of anger in her eyes as she fights with Cyclops and Evangeline about legal strategy.) Gillen is creating a complicated character here and anyone who's dismissing this book as being a junior version of the X-Men is missing some really fascinating stuff.
Uncanny X-Men #538: Wow. This issue felt like three because around every page another plot twist brought the story somewhere I didn't expect it to go yet made perfect sense. (OK, maybe not "perfect" sense when you reflect on it, but at least enough sense while reading it that the story flowed really well.) Gillen has really crafted an intricate story that unfolds beautifully. He clearly knew where it was going to end, so the issue didn't have the "plotting by the seat of his pants" feel that a lot of Fraction's stories seemed to have to me. Moreover, it didn't just feel like a cheap way to render Kitty tangible, since Haleena's decision to sacrifice herself for Kitty is based on her need to save Kruun and the Breakworlders. I had figured Kitty would somehow get back her powers thanks to Kruun's mutant "cure," but Gillen's way was a lot better. (I will say that I'm not entirely sure why Haleena decided that only Kitty could stop Kruun and that it was worth sacrificing her life to make her tangible so she could do it. I mean, presumably she could've just, I don't know, gotten Psylocke or something. But, whatever, I've decided I buy it.) I'm glad Gillen has wrapped up the Kitty storyline because I think it's high time we get to see Colossus and her just enjoy being together (as Kitty suggests on the last page). Gillen has portrayed their relationship better than anyone I've ever read and I'm really excited to see where he takes them. This arc rocked and I continue to be thrilled with Gillen's stewardship of one of Marvel's flagship titles.
X-Factor #221: Seriously, I heart this story. I heart everything about this story. Shatterstar and Wolfsbane fighting off demons set on stealing Rahne's baby? Awesome. Rahne letting Shatterstar sneak a peak at her naked? Awesome. Feral NOT cheesily being returned from the dead but instead being a creepy ghost who keeps appearing creepily and creepily helping the demons find Rahne? Awesome. Madrox reading "Sybil?" Awesome. Getting resolution on Pip's mysterious benefactor (huh, I hadn't seen a "Great Expectations" connection there before writing that)? Awesome. "X-Factor" continues to be one of my favorite books right now and, if you're not reading it, you should be.
X-Men #13: This story continues to be split between past and present. In the present, we get some background on the Evolutionaries in the form of one of the Evolutionaries expositing their story to someone (though, to whom, I'm not entirely sure). We learn they were created by an Eternal to help species set to become dominant evolve (though I thought in an earlier issue we established that the Eternals had washed their hands of this job, since they were tasked by the Celestials with containing the Deviant threat and nothing more). Meanwhile, the X-Men continue trying to defend Cyclops from the Evolutionaries, who view him as responsible, as leader of the mutants, for the reduced number of mutants in the world and want to eliminate him. In the past, Magneto has accepted the Evolutionaries charge to eliminate homo sapien. I can't say either plot -- the X-Men defending Cyclops or Magneto accepting the Evolutionaries' task -- is particularly interesting, since neither really advances all that much from where it was at the end of last issue. However, it's not what Yost does here that's interesting, but what he seems poised to do, which is seriously flesh out the history of several major characters. First, I'm intrigued by the Scarlet Witch sending the past X-Men to find Emma Frost, since it implies that the Evolutionaries' appearance was the cause of (or at least contributed to) Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch breaking with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Second, we seem poised to delve into Emma Frost's back story, something that I don't think we've ever really been given all that extensively. In the present, we seem on the verge of Magneto remembering his dealings with the Evolutionaries, with Emma warning Iceman that he may indeed get a chance to fight Magneto as a result. Despite some of questions I have about the Evolutionaries and their origin, Yost has done a great job of building up the suspense in this issue, even if we don't really end with a change to the status quo. I can honestly say I can't wait to see what happens next issue. (I have no idea who the crew that appeared at the end of the issue were, so I'm hoping to get some clarity on that, too. Also, the Storm/Magneto splash page was FANTASTIC.)
X-Men: Prelude to Schism #3: Jenkins continues the pattern of previous issues of framing this issue around Cyclops seeking advice from an advisor, this time, from his dead mother. It's an interesting conceit, and it gives us insight into Cyclops' emotions that I can't say I've ever really seen. Moreover, it pointed out something that had never dawned on me, that Cyclops -- despite being leader of the X-Men -- can't actually control his power. Even more interestingly, Jenkins also calls into question whether Cyclops can't do so because of the concussion he suffered when he parachuted from the plane with Alex when they were children or simply because he hasn't focused enough on controlling it, raising the hint of the possibility that Cyclops could go the way of Rogue and actually learn how to control his power without his visor. Other than this possibility, the issue doesn't really cover that much ground, leaving us to wonder what threat exactly the X-Men are facing.
Monday, June 6, 2011
New Comics!: The X-Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Generation Hope #7: Gillen continues to do a great job with these characters, really hitting the nail on the head when it comes to conveying them as ordinary kids who just happen to have super-powers. I enjoyed that Hope, the Great Messiah, was completely unable to convince the Fetus that life didn't suck. It's nice to see that she can't solve all the problems the Lights encounter. Similarly, Laurie's recitation of facts about Germany's excellent education system and highly-progressive work hours and vacation allowances was funny, as was Kenji telling the kid he couldn't really help him. The ending is cute, keeping with the light-hearted nature of the stories we've seen so far. Gillen isn't sending the kids against Mr. Sinister in these stories (though I'm sure those days are coming) but he manages to keep me interested, giving us an interesting meditation on life without being overly expository or lecture-y. All in all, I continue to be pleasantly surprised by this series.
X-Men: Prelude to Schism #1-#2: OK, so I don't know anyone who doesn't have event fatigue, a feeling made worse for me by the pretty awful "Chaos War" and isn't being helped by the somewhat meandering "Fear Itself." But, that being said, these issues of "Prelude to Schism" were actually pretty interesting. We see the X-Men facing an unnamed threat that could wipe out Utopia (it could possibly be Bastion, I think), but waiting for Cyclops to make some sort of decision. Cyclops, meanwhile, is given advice by Professor X (in the first issue) and Magneto (in the second one), both of whom spend most of the issues reflecting on their own failures of leadership and their relationships with Scott. Although it could've been done cloyingly, Jenkins actually handles it superbly. He's got a real skill for portraying emotions without inducing eye-rolling, a talent that I wish more comic-book writers had. I'm excited to see where this event is going, which, honestly, I don't think I've ever been able to say before, at least not recently.
X-Men Giant Size #1: Um, OK, I bite. Wow. My heart sank when I saw that the Neo were (at first glance) the enemy in this issue, because, after rummaging around my mind a bit, I remembered that it was the terrible Neo stories in "Uncanny X-Men" that partially led me to give up the X-books entirely. So, I was a bit nervous as I continued reading, despite the fact that I actually found myself enjoying the first few pages. The art was impressive, and Yost did a great job of giving us an epic battle without the action getting convoluted because of the significant number of characters involved. Then, just when I was coming to the conclusion that maybe Yost was rehabilitating the Neo as not totally ridiculous villains, we get transported into the past, where we see the original X-Men fight the Brotherhood of Mutants. (I wasn't as impressed with the art here. I know they're going for a retro style but I think this section would've been even better if Medina had just done the whole issue.) Despite feeling like a non-sequitur, the battle between the young X-Men and the Brotherhood was enjoyable. Just when I'm wondering why exactly we're given this trip down memory lane, though, BAM, we get the Evolutionaries appearing and all Hell breaks loose. Yost foreshadows the events that are about to happen by giving us a scared Cyclops, something I now realize I don't think we've ever seen before, at least not to the extent we see here. The reason behind Cyclops' fear becomes readily apparently when the Evolutionaries wipe out the Neo. When I say "wipe out," I mean, "destroy totally." All of them. Yost really shines here, giving us a story that slowly reveals itself to great effect, culminating in a spectacular cliff-hanger that leaves me counting the days until "X-Men" #12.
X-Men Legacy #249 (Age of X Epilogue): This issue is a bit...odd. Magneto takes Rogue to a museum of the Holocaust in Los Angeles to show her a photo of a man he killed after the war. The man was a scientist who experimented on Jews held in the concentration camp where Magneto spent time as a child, and Magneto forced him to hang himself lest Magneto injure his family. He relates this "parable" to Rogue because, to his mind at least, it has something to do with her conflicting emotions about him and Remy and tells her to choose Remy. I'm still not entirely sure what it means, though. Is he saying he'll kill Remy if he hurts Rogue or something less sinister? However, we never really get resolution, because the issue then turns to Frenzy and Legion. Carey is, I believe, building toward creating the permanent team for this series -- Professor X, Magneto, Rogue, Gambit, Legion, and Frenzy -- but I think he tries to do too much here. I didn't really buy that Magneto would take Rogue all the way to Los Angeles just to show her a photo, and, again, I'm not even sure what the parable really meant. At any rate, we'll see what he has in store for issue #250 next month. Hopefully it'll wrap up the post-"Age of X" stories and move us into the new status quo.
X-Men: Prelude to Schism #1-#2: OK, so I don't know anyone who doesn't have event fatigue, a feeling made worse for me by the pretty awful "Chaos War" and isn't being helped by the somewhat meandering "Fear Itself." But, that being said, these issues of "Prelude to Schism" were actually pretty interesting. We see the X-Men facing an unnamed threat that could wipe out Utopia (it could possibly be Bastion, I think), but waiting for Cyclops to make some sort of decision. Cyclops, meanwhile, is given advice by Professor X (in the first issue) and Magneto (in the second one), both of whom spend most of the issues reflecting on their own failures of leadership and their relationships with Scott. Although it could've been done cloyingly, Jenkins actually handles it superbly. He's got a real skill for portraying emotions without inducing eye-rolling, a talent that I wish more comic-book writers had. I'm excited to see where this event is going, which, honestly, I don't think I've ever been able to say before, at least not recently.
Uncanny X-Men #537: This issue starts off angry and just keeps getting angrier. Gillen really builds the suspense here, giving the issue an awesome Hitchcockian vibe as Kitty wordlessly and frantically stumbles through Utopia seeking someone to save Peter. I'm going to have to re-read last issue, because I'm not entirely sure why Kruun's knife can magically injure a phased Kitty (maybe it's coated with the cure?) or the significance of Haleena striking what looks like the M'Kraan crystal. But, seeing Peter in his underwear more than compensates for those questions. I really like what Gillen continues to do with this book, because he never takes the easy road. When the Breakworlders appeared a few issues ago, I didn't think we'd see the X-Men on the ropes like we do here. I'm excited to see how it all resolves itself, because it's anyone's guess at this point.
X-Factor #219: The General Ryan mystery arc wraps up here in a fairly dark way. Monet shatters Ballistique's mind, but decides to allow her to live. JJJ, Jr. is sleazy as ever, revealing that he had held back information from the team. Layla leaves Guido's hospital room in tears when it's revealed that Guido is, indeed, probably soulless, given that he's talking about the "weight" he feels has been lifted off him. Unfortunately, despite a lot happening, I can't say I particularly liked this arc. JJJ, Jr. and the Black Cat seemed more or less oddly wedged into it, distracting from the story . Monet, Shatterstar, and Wolfsbane also all seemed particularly blood-thirsty here, which isn't exactly out of character for any of them (and understandable given the Guido situation), but it felt little over-the-top at times to me. Honestly, I'm looking forward to putting this arc behind us.
X-Factor #219: The General Ryan mystery arc wraps up here in a fairly dark way. Monet shatters Ballistique's mind, but decides to allow her to live. JJJ, Jr. is sleazy as ever, revealing that he had held back information from the team. Layla leaves Guido's hospital room in tears when it's revealed that Guido is, indeed, probably soulless, given that he's talking about the "weight" he feels has been lifted off him. Unfortunately, despite a lot happening, I can't say I particularly liked this arc. JJJ, Jr. and the Black Cat seemed more or less oddly wedged into it, distracting from the story . Monet, Shatterstar, and Wolfsbane also all seemed particularly blood-thirsty here, which isn't exactly out of character for any of them (and understandable given the Guido situation), but it felt little over-the-top at times to me. Honestly, I'm looking forward to putting this arc behind us.
X-Men Legacy #249 (Age of X Epilogue): This issue is a bit...odd. Magneto takes Rogue to a museum of the Holocaust in Los Angeles to show her a photo of a man he killed after the war. The man was a scientist who experimented on Jews held in the concentration camp where Magneto spent time as a child, and Magneto forced him to hang himself lest Magneto injure his family. He relates this "parable" to Rogue because, to his mind at least, it has something to do with her conflicting emotions about him and Remy and tells her to choose Remy. I'm still not entirely sure what it means, though. Is he saying he'll kill Remy if he hurts Rogue or something less sinister? However, we never really get resolution, because the issue then turns to Frenzy and Legion. Carey is, I believe, building toward creating the permanent team for this series -- Professor X, Magneto, Rogue, Gambit, Legion, and Frenzy -- but I think he tries to do too much here. I didn't really buy that Magneto would take Rogue all the way to Los Angeles just to show her a photo, and, again, I'm not even sure what the parable really meant. At any rate, we'll see what he has in store for issue #250 next month. Hopefully it'll wrap up the post-"Age of X" stories and move us into the new status quo.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
New Comics - The Boom! and Marvel Edition! (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Avengers #12.1: It's the Avengers turn for a .1 issue, and Bendis returns to a plot point from the first arc, planting the seeds of the return of Ultron. I enjoyed this .1 issue less than some of the other ones, mainly because it still has some of the flaws that annoy me every month in this title. Although we at least see some of Spider-Woman in this issue, Hawkeye and Spider-Man are criminally ignored. Hawkeye doesn't get in a word, and Spider-Man's reduced to one (pretty funny, granted) one-liner. Moreover, even Spider-Woman's appearance barely counts, since she's all Women in Refrigerators here. The think tank of evil geniuses was clever enough, I guess, and the Wizard and the Thinker actually had some decent banter. But, I had to raise an eyebrow when it's revealed that basically the entire plot of the issue was just to get the Avengers in the room so they could just happen to witness the return of Ultron. Ultron announces that he's not ready to fight the Avengers and disappears, destroying the mad genius' secret lair (while, miraculously and conveniently, not killing anyone) in the process. This bait-and-switch gambit left me feeling kind of cold. It's similar to what Bendis did with the aforementioned first arc, where we were told the Avengers had to go to the future to defeat their kids, only to discover it was a ruse to get them to convince Ultron to let Kang defeat him. Bendis apparently thinks these sort of bait-and-switch plots keep us on our toes, but instead they just leave me annoyed and disappointed that I didn't get the story I thought I was getting. Moreover, we see a great example of pet peeve #1 here with a clearly-Steve-Rogers-not-Bucky-Barnes Captain America appearing on the cover. I know that the point of the .1 issues is to project future storylines, and we know Steve Rogers will soon be Captain America again. But, it felt cheap.
Generation Hope #6: This series continues to be a surprising treat every month. Gillen has not only created compelling characters but, after only six issues, has also given them complex relationships with one another. Kitty is a great choice for a team liaison and I'm waiting for the inevitable conflict between Hope and her. I like how Gillen makes Hope not a 100 percent likeable character. You're rooting for her, but she's also obviously going to have a moment where she learns she's not as capable of a field leader as she thinks she is. Kitty has been fighting the good fight since she was a child -- just like Hope -- and at some point Hope is going to have to listen to her. Gillen's newest light also continues to be innovative and weird -- I mean, how do you fight a fetus? I can't wait to see how this fight goes down. All in all, it's a great book that's telling better X-Men stories than "X-Men Legacy" and, until recently, "X-Men."
Secret Avengers #12.1: This issue was so well done that I was about to congratulate Ed Brubaker for another excellent installment. But, then, I looked at the title page and saw it was Nick Spencer. Welcome aboard, Nick! This issue is a return to form, of sorts, for the title. I say "of sorts" because it's not like this title has been around that long to have a form to which it can really return. But, the Shadow Council has pretty much dominated this title almost from the start, so it's nice to see Spencer re-focusing it by embracing the .1 concept and giving us a self-contained story focused on espionage, the type of story I thought this series would give us (instead of the aliens and Nazis). We get the requisite amount of espionage here and Spencer hands the team a loss, something, to be honest, you just don't see that often. It actually may be my favorite .1 issue yet!
Starborn #5: I'm canceling this title. It's OK, but I find the writing to be a little too weak to justify $3.99 a month. It was a cool concept, but the author seems stuck just giving us scenarios where the main character acts like a rube. Did I mention the $3.99 a month?
The Traveler #6: I'm tempted just to say "see 'Starborn' #5" here, but I'll give it a go. This issue is odd. To be honest, I'm surprised I hung in here as long as I have, given that I pretty much hate time-travel stories. But, this issue is pretty much a testament to why I hate them. The whole Amelia Earhart schtick felt forced, and it's unclear to me why Abaris is holding her and the other people as prisoners. Daavi seems to imply that that Abaris doesn't know exactly why they're there, but that doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to me. He might not care what the repercussions of them being there are, but it seems like he'd at least know why they're there and how the "random space-time warps" work. Similar to "Starborn," I liked the concept behind this story in the beginning, but I don't think it justifies an ongoing monthly series, particularly at the cost of $3.99 a month. Ciao, Traveler. Good luck.
Uncanny X-Men #536: This issue is stressful! Gillen does a great job here giving everyone dynamic personalities, taking them beyond just talking heads meant to move along the plot and instead giving us a subtle building of tension as they all interact. Kruun is both struggling to be a diplomat while at the same time planning his revenge. Colossus is trying to be compassionate toward the Breakworld refugees, but can barely control his hatred of Kruun. Scott is trying, as usual, to balance all sides and Emma, as usual, is skeptical (and right). I love that Kruun SCHOOLED Magneto, something you don't see every day. I didn't read the original Breakworld saga (though I'm inclined to hunt down a TPB), so I'm pretty sure I'm missing some subtleties. For example, I'm not entirely sure how Kruun got his hands on the formula that negates the mutant gene, and I'm not sure if it's meant to be permanent. But, for the most part, Gillen does a great job, just like last issue, of giving you what you need to know without over- or under-simplifying it. I really love what he's done with "Uncanny." It's gone from a book I more or less just got because it involved the X-Men to one of the books to which I most look forward each month.
X-Factor #218: Guido got shot last issue, and we see Monet struggling to shake off Ballistique of the Three Ladies Who Blow Up Things (or whatever they'll eventually be called) in order to get him to the hospital. Unfortunately, she's pretty much on her own, since JJJ, Jr.'s folks have Siryn pinned and the Black Cat is engaged in battle with Rococo. It's a pretty solid issue, with David, as usual, doing a great job keeping the action sequences tense. When we eventually get to the hospital, I actually thought they killed off Guido. But, the truth is a lot scarier: if Layla really did revive Guido, then, unless her power has changed, he has no soul. I can't wait to see what the repercussions of THAT will be. I think (hope) David is going to wrap up this Three Ladies Who Blow Up Things storyline in the next issue, because I'd really like to return to the Shatterstar/Longshot conundrum.
Generation Hope #6: This series continues to be a surprising treat every month. Gillen has not only created compelling characters but, after only six issues, has also given them complex relationships with one another. Kitty is a great choice for a team liaison and I'm waiting for the inevitable conflict between Hope and her. I like how Gillen makes Hope not a 100 percent likeable character. You're rooting for her, but she's also obviously going to have a moment where she learns she's not as capable of a field leader as she thinks she is. Kitty has been fighting the good fight since she was a child -- just like Hope -- and at some point Hope is going to have to listen to her. Gillen's newest light also continues to be innovative and weird -- I mean, how do you fight a fetus? I can't wait to see how this fight goes down. All in all, it's a great book that's telling better X-Men stories than "X-Men Legacy" and, until recently, "X-Men."
Secret Avengers #12.1: This issue was so well done that I was about to congratulate Ed Brubaker for another excellent installment. But, then, I looked at the title page and saw it was Nick Spencer. Welcome aboard, Nick! This issue is a return to form, of sorts, for the title. I say "of sorts" because it's not like this title has been around that long to have a form to which it can really return. But, the Shadow Council has pretty much dominated this title almost from the start, so it's nice to see Spencer re-focusing it by embracing the .1 concept and giving us a self-contained story focused on espionage, the type of story I thought this series would give us (instead of the aliens and Nazis). We get the requisite amount of espionage here and Spencer hands the team a loss, something, to be honest, you just don't see that often. It actually may be my favorite .1 issue yet!
Starborn #5: I'm canceling this title. It's OK, but I find the writing to be a little too weak to justify $3.99 a month. It was a cool concept, but the author seems stuck just giving us scenarios where the main character acts like a rube. Did I mention the $3.99 a month?
The Traveler #6: I'm tempted just to say "see 'Starborn' #5" here, but I'll give it a go. This issue is odd. To be honest, I'm surprised I hung in here as long as I have, given that I pretty much hate time-travel stories. But, this issue is pretty much a testament to why I hate them. The whole Amelia Earhart schtick felt forced, and it's unclear to me why Abaris is holding her and the other people as prisoners. Daavi seems to imply that that Abaris doesn't know exactly why they're there, but that doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to me. He might not care what the repercussions of them being there are, but it seems like he'd at least know why they're there and how the "random space-time warps" work. Similar to "Starborn," I liked the concept behind this story in the beginning, but I don't think it justifies an ongoing monthly series, particularly at the cost of $3.99 a month. Ciao, Traveler. Good luck.
Uncanny X-Men #536: This issue is stressful! Gillen does a great job here giving everyone dynamic personalities, taking them beyond just talking heads meant to move along the plot and instead giving us a subtle building of tension as they all interact. Kruun is both struggling to be a diplomat while at the same time planning his revenge. Colossus is trying to be compassionate toward the Breakworld refugees, but can barely control his hatred of Kruun. Scott is trying, as usual, to balance all sides and Emma, as usual, is skeptical (and right). I love that Kruun SCHOOLED Magneto, something you don't see every day. I didn't read the original Breakworld saga (though I'm inclined to hunt down a TPB), so I'm pretty sure I'm missing some subtleties. For example, I'm not entirely sure how Kruun got his hands on the formula that negates the mutant gene, and I'm not sure if it's meant to be permanent. But, for the most part, Gillen does a great job, just like last issue, of giving you what you need to know without over- or under-simplifying it. I really love what he's done with "Uncanny." It's gone from a book I more or less just got because it involved the X-Men to one of the books to which I most look forward each month.
X-Factor #218: Guido got shot last issue, and we see Monet struggling to shake off Ballistique of the Three Ladies Who Blow Up Things (or whatever they'll eventually be called) in order to get him to the hospital. Unfortunately, she's pretty much on her own, since JJJ, Jr.'s folks have Siryn pinned and the Black Cat is engaged in battle with Rococo. It's a pretty solid issue, with David, as usual, doing a great job keeping the action sequences tense. When we eventually get to the hospital, I actually thought they killed off Guido. But, the truth is a lot scarier: if Layla really did revive Guido, then, unless her power has changed, he has no soul. I can't wait to see what the repercussions of THAT will be. I think (hope) David is going to wrap up this Three Ladies Who Blow Up Things storyline in the next issue, because I'd really like to return to the Shatterstar/Longshot conundrum.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
New Comics!: The Teens Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Avengers: The Children's Crusade - Young Avengers #1: OK, I'm going to put aside the sheer bizarreness of this issue's existence and address the issue itself first. The good news is that it's fun, with a lot of winks and nods to the original "Young Avengers" mini-series. We get an insight into the first few days of the Young Avengers. We don't see Iron Lad's initial approach to Hulkling, Patriot, and Wiccan, but we see them training together and finding themselves fighting Electro. I see here why Marvel has made the decision to only allow Allan Heinberg to work on the Young Avengers, because he adds grace notes here -- such as the boys' fanboy banter -- that I'm not sure another writer would add. Having them fight Electro was a really inspired choice, since, after all, what fanboy wouldn't chose a member of Spider-Man's rogues' gallery if he had to fight his first super-villain? It was fun to see Iron Lad back in the fold (Eli actually has a friend...) and it makes me realize that I hope Heinberg finds a way to keep him in our time permanently (despite the fact that it's probably impossible to do so without some elaborate cheat that would wind up annoying me). Also, I continue to take off my hat to Heinberg for creating a world where Billy and Teddy's teammates accept their relationship entirely. I can't think of any other comic book or, really, TV show that does that, and I really applaud him for it. Now, onto the negatives, unfortunately. First, the art's off a bit in this issue. It was occasionally hard to tell the difference between Billy and Nathaniel. Davis was juggling a lot of stuff here (including creating looks for the adult versions of the Young Avengers), so I get why some details were a little loose. But, the confusion it caused was still distracting at times. Second, I honestly have lost track of Kang and who he is and whether he's supposed to be good or bad. It's just all...so...headache-inducing. Finally, and most importantly, why does this issue exist in the first place? This mini-series has been dragging for the last few issues, essentially repeating the same plot over and over again. Moreover, the bi-monthly format has exacerbated the sense that we're just spinning our wheels. I would've preferred here an issue that actually advanced the plot as opposed to some other side show. It's time to bring this mini-series to a close and for Marvel to decide what it's doing to the franchise. We're talking about almost two years at this point for a (what was supposed to be) nine-issue mini-series. Seriously, gentlemen, it's time.
Generation Hope #5: I'm really starting to like this series. I'd actually put it up there with "New Mutants" as one of the better X-books. It's certainly better than the core X-books. This issue sees Hope flex her muscles a bit. Gillen does a great job reminding us that Hope actually has two futures in play, one as a Messiah, but also one as a destroyer. Her interaction with Emma Frost was fun, mostly because I actually found myself feeling bad for, and agreeing with, Emma, which doesn't often happen.
Superboy #5: In this issue, Superboy and Kid Flash race...[yawn]...and the Phantom Stranger [nod]...where am I? Sorry, I fell asleep there. Seriously, reviewing this issue is even more boring than reading it. I love Superboy, but "Superboy" has been just dreadfully dull. Lemire just keeps mining the same stories (the weird "Broken Silo" or whatever-it's-called attack on Smallville and Conner's troubled relationship with Lori Luthor) over and over again. It's dull. Sorry, it is. Even the physical hint that Psionic Lad's arch-nemesis is who I think he is (see last review) wasn't enough to inject some energy into this book. Plus, Conner continues to mope about Cassie, despite being the one who ended the relationship. The whole series has felt wrong, and I'm surprised by the fact that I'm really thinking about dropping the comic that features the character that got me back into comics. But, I think we're almost there. I know it's hard to make Smallville exciting in a way that doesn't defy common sense (it's not going to have the same number of villains as Gotham, for example, and still be believable), but Lemire has to do something here and soon.
Generation Hope #5: I'm really starting to like this series. I'd actually put it up there with "New Mutants" as one of the better X-books. It's certainly better than the core X-books. This issue sees Hope flex her muscles a bit. Gillen does a great job reminding us that Hope actually has two futures in play, one as a Messiah, but also one as a destroyer. Her interaction with Emma Frost was fun, mostly because I actually found myself feeling bad for, and agreeing with, Emma, which doesn't often happen.
Superboy #5: In this issue, Superboy and Kid Flash race...[yawn]...and the Phantom Stranger [nod]...where am I? Sorry, I fell asleep there. Seriously, reviewing this issue is even more boring than reading it. I love Superboy, but "Superboy" has been just dreadfully dull. Lemire just keeps mining the same stories (the weird "Broken Silo" or whatever-it's-called attack on Smallville and Conner's troubled relationship with Lori Luthor) over and over again. It's dull. Sorry, it is. Even the physical hint that Psionic Lad's arch-nemesis is who I think he is (see last review) wasn't enough to inject some energy into this book. Plus, Conner continues to mope about Cassie, despite being the one who ended the relationship. The whole series has felt wrong, and I'm surprised by the fact that I'm really thinking about dropping the comic that features the character that got me back into comics. But, I think we're almost there. I know it's hard to make Smallville exciting in a way that doesn't defy common sense (it's not going to have the same number of villains as Gotham, for example, and still be believable), but Lemire has to do something here and soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)