Six-Month-Old Comics: The January 11 Edition - Part 2 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Mary Jane & Black Cat #2:  Now that this series doesn't have anything to do with Dark Web, it's much better.

Belasco explains to Felicia and Mary Jane that, when Madelyne connected Limbo to Earth, she created "arcane vibrations" that rendered the spell phasing the Screaming Tower outside reality vulnerable.  Belsaco destroyed the spell, and he wants Felicia and Mary Jane to beat out all the other thieves trying to swipe his Soulsword from the Tower so he can rule Limbo.  I'm not entirely sure why he chose this pair but, given the nonsense we've seen in Spidey books lately, I'm good with the ambiguity.

We also get a hint that Mary Jane and Peter were gone longer than the six months everyone on Earth thought they were gone, but I've given up hope we'll ever fully understand that story.

Star Wars:  Darth Vader #30:  I've said it a lot, and I'll say it again:  I still don't understand this arc.  

Soule reveals that Rabé infiltrated the Executor at the same time as Dormé.  While Dormé distracted Vader, Rabé hacked into the Executor's systems and discovered Sabé was on Brentaal IV.  When Vader takes Dormé with him en route to Fentalle, for reasons Soule doesn't make clear, the Handmaidens attack.  They threaten to blow up the Executor with a code Eirtaé wrote based on information Dormé and Rabé pulled from its system.  But it's an easy bluff for Vader to call.

Meanwhile, it turns out Sabé only wounded Jul Tambor, since she knew that Vader would've killed all his allies if he insisted on destroying the Imperial garrison on Skako Minor.  Tambor reveals that he's been buying up droids that Vader killed to analyze his movements (using their last memories).  As the Handmaidens struggle with Vader calling their bluff, Tambor contacts Vader to tell him that he has Sabé.  The Handmaidens agree to accompany Vader to retrieve her.

To a certain extent, I get all the Handmaidens' motives.  Sabé is using her influence to save as many people as she can, and the remaining Handmaidens are just trying to save Sabé.  But I still don't understand why Vader is entertaining this nonsense.  Is it really worth his time to toy with them?  Soule has gone to great lengths to show that Anakin is gone, so I don't think we're supposed to believe that he's in love with them.

[Sigh.]  I hope one day this story ends.

Wild C.A.Ts #3:  Rosenberg makes it clear here that these series isn't going to win any awards for narrative complexity, and I'm OK with that.  

Grifter immediately gets into a fight with Pike, one of the Seven Soldiers of Victory who worked with him on Team 6, when Grifter was known as Deadeye.  Marlowe suspends Cole for the fracas, but he's unsuspended when Deathblow, Fairchild, and Zealot need help saving Damon Walsh, the son of Dante Walsh,"the Ambassador."  Apparently some group kidnapped Damon to prevent the United States from getting involved in their country's internal affairs, but Voodoo reveals to the team that Damon's death would end the world.  Voodoo seems to direct the team's missions based on her visions.

At the time the team call him for help, Cole was visiting a rich guy named Jason Halliday because Cole somehow found out Halliday was a member of the Court of Owls.  (Halliday was shirtless when Cole awakened him in bed, but he's wearing a shirt when Cole is hanging him out a window, and I like to think Cole made him put on the shirt just to do that.)  I still don't get why Cole is so obsessed with the Court, but Rosenberg is a good writer so I assume we'll get there.

X-Men #18:  This issue is a mess.  The art is rushed, with everyone looking more like sketches than characters.  Moreover, Laura, Sr. confronts Laura, Jr. as if it's her fault that they're both alive.  Duggan also weirdly ties this issue to the "X-Terminators" series, meaning the Lauras have this conversation while fighting vampires.  Also Beast apparently thinks that Laura's discovery is overly convenient, which Jean dismisses since she and Synch both verified her identity. It's supposedly showing how dark Beast's heart has gotten, but we all know that he's going to turn out being correct.  Also, Jean and Scott save some Orchis workers from an exploding space station?  As I said, it's a mess.

Also Read:  Moon Knight #19

Five-Month-Old Comics: The November 23 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #14:  I was upset about Ben's fall during Spencer's run, but damn if the Beyond arc wasn't one of the most intense stories that I've ever read.  Maybe Wells is better at telling other people's stories than his own, because he takes Spencer's ball and fucking runs with it here. 

First things first, Wells addresses Janine.  We learn at the issue's start that Ben is raiding Beyond warehouses with the goal of finding a technology that'lll help him steal Peter's memories.  Janine decides to leave him over his obsession.  As she sits dejectedly picking at her eggs at a café in Grand Central Station, the friendly owner asks what's bothering her.  But Janine has been down this road many times before and realizes the owner is stalling for time after he called the police.  When he begins to judge her for murdering her father, she attacks him and flees.  She realizes that Ben is the only sanctuary she's ever had, so she returns to him and commits to supporting him fully.

Meanwhile, Ben finds himself called to Limbo after he discovers that one of the devices he swiped opens a portal there.  Enter Madelyne Pryor.  This pairing makes perfect sense.  In fact, the only reason that I could see for not getting these two together is that they're from such different corners of the Marvel Universe that I'm sure it required some legwork on the authors' and editors' parts to make it happen.  

Ben and Janine eventually move to Limbo where Ben convinces Madelyne to lend him her demon army to invade New York.  We're not clear why Ben wants to invade New York at this point, but we'll see.  For Madelyne's part, she's starting to wonder if the mutants really gave her what she wanted or simply exiled away a bad memory.

Before the invasion begins, Madelyne powers up Janine using S'ym's finger, introducing us to the worst-named character ever, Hallows' Eve.  Name aside, Wells does a great job showing how this outcome is really the only one that makes sense for Janine.  If she wants to inhabit Ben's world, she needs to do so fully.

The issue ends with Ben standing outside Peter's apartment in the hope of seeing him once last time before he attacks him.  Instead, he runs into the increasingly unhinged debt collector chasing Peter.  The collector (understandably) mistakes Ben for Peter, and Ben mishears the comma and believes that the collector called him a "fake[,] Peter Parker."  Ben loses it and drag the collector to Limbo where we learn that he isn't the nicest of men.  Madelyne has him taste from the Tree of Exquisite Liberation, confirming her theory that it can free a soul from a body.  Guess how Ben wants to use that?

Honestly, I find myself surprisingly stoked about the upcoming "Dark Web" event after this issue.  Go figure.

Miracleman by Gaiman and Buckingham:  The Silver Age #2:  This issue is the finally step in getting us ready for new stories, as Miracleman kisses Dicky at Miraclewoman's urging.  

Miraclewoman is convinced that Dicky has always been in love with Miracelman.  Miracelman sees Dicky's violent reaction to the kiss as proof that she was wrong and that Dicky doesn't love him, though I wouldn't necessarily read it that way.  A devastated Dicky leaves Olympus after telling Miracelman not to follow him, and Miracleman tells Miraclewoman that they need to talk.  The way Buckingham draws that last panel, Miracleman seems to suspect Miraclewoman had ulterior motives for pushing him to kiss Dicky.  

Looking ahead, Dicky seems destined for some role in taking on the Pantheon.  For most of this issue, we're following him as New York throws him a ticker-tape parade.  At the post-parade gala, a "spaceman" appears and rambles.  Winter tells Dicky that it portends great things (the spaceman is a known quantity somehow to her), and Miraclewoman tells Miracleman later that he didn't understand the spaceman's message because it was meant for Dicky.  The intriguing part of said message is the end, when he says, "If sanity consists of adapting to uncover crimes of light."  It isn't hard to see Dicky as the one undercovering Miracelman's well meaning crimes.

Beyond the plot, Gaiman and Buckingham do a spectacular job of showing how awful Miracelman's betrayal is.  Dicky's been alive for days, maybe weeks.  Rather than waiting to address the potential for his feelings when the stress of his reincarnation is less, Miracleman kisses him.  The look of horror and shock on Dicky's face is a testament of Buckingham's skill.  Miracelman's actions send a confused yet powerful adolescent into this carefully crafted world.  We've been down that road before, and it doesn't end well.

Star Wars:  Revelations #1:  As a public-service announcement, I'd warn anyone reading even one of the "Star Wars" series to skip this issue, as it basically just summarizes recent events in each series.  As someone reading all the series except "Star Wars:  Doctor Aphra," I was as annoyed as Vader was.

Star Wars:  Yoda #1:  This issue is solid.  Scott does an excellent job of showing Yoda's ability to focus on doing the right thing when he insists on personally responding to a distress call from Turrak, a backwater planet in the Outer Rim.  But Scott also doesn't make it that easy.

Arriving on Turrak, Yoda helps Sclavi villagers survive Crulkon pirates' third raid in as many days.  Deciding to fight against the galaxy usually works, he decides to stay on the planet.  If I'm reading between the lines correctly, Yoda's decision is motivated from the knowledge that the pirates would simply destroy the village the minute he left.  It's obviously noble, but the Council isn't wrong when it's concerned that his absence from Coruscant will mean more people will suffer in the aggregate.  Yoda clearly knows that, too, so it'll be interesting to explore his thought process as events progress.  

I was worried this series would lean too much into Yoda's more cartoon-y iterations, but Scott really captures Yoda's essence here.  Great stuff.

X-Men #17:  I wasn't really feeling this arc, but Duggan wraps it up beautifully.  

Caliban - or, at least, Caliban's essence - argues with Forge when he decides to leave Laura to find Darwin.  Forge's logic is that the Five have already resurrected her, which he mutters is the second time that they've resurrected someone not actually dead.  (I'm not sure who the other one is.)  Caliban's essence sees Forge as yet another person misusing his gift.

But Forge's search is frustrated when Serafina attacks him.  Duggan doesn't explain how she avoided Forge's trap, but Caliban's kindness - and her apparent debt to the mutants, who previously saved her from Orchis (seriously, don't we do editor's notes anymore?) convinces her to let them leave with Laura.  

Before they can, Darwin contacts Forge in his subconscious, revealing that he turned into code when he needed a way to escape the living autopsies to which the Children of the Vault subjected him.  Darwin declines to leave with Forge, and Forge instead leaves with Laura, the happiest of all possible endings for an overjoyed Synch.  Seriously, it's possibly the only clear romantic win for an X-Men maybe...ever.  Wrapping up a minor mystery, Tempo was the third mutant's gift who Forge used, to make sure that he didn't age in the Vault.

Fascinatingly, Dr. Reyes' medical report about Forge's condition at the issue's end makes it clear that Darwin embedded himself into Forge, since Forge's Cerebro backup "was measured in Zettabytes."  It eventually returned to normal, implying Darwin is now in Krakoa somehow.  I'm sure that'll turn out well.

Five-Month-Old Comics: The October 19 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Moon Knight #16:  This issue is a bit slow since Moon Knight spends a lot of time listening to Tutor's rival, Lady Yulan, explain vampire politics.  

Apparently Yulan worked for "the dread immortal Yi Yang" and claims to have killed a thousand men a century before Dracula was even born.  But Yi Yang went nuts due to the immortality's inherent alienation, and Yulan fled.  

Years ago, a still-human Tutor came to her with ideas about how vampirism could be humanity's next evolutionary step.  She didn't buy it.  When she refused to turn him into a vampire, he used one of her "brides" to turn himself.  

Now Tutor wants to gain international recognition for his budding empire, and Yulan hypothesizes that he's coming at Moon Knight because he's afraid that Moon Knight is making his own vampires.  (We found out Reese accidentally created Soldier after a piece of her heart entered his heart when they were shot.)  

Yulan informs Moon Knight that she a truce with Tutor since otherwise he'd inform Yi Yang about her whereabouts.  But she informs Moon Knight where he can find the conclave that Tutor is holding to gain his recognition.

Oh, also, it seems like Grand-Mal and the Nemean killed Hunter's Moon.  Moon Knight will handle that well.

Star Wars:  Darth Vader #28:  If this Sabé storyline doesn't end soon, I'm done.  

Pak is really taking it too far as Sabé stays with Vader even after he brings her to the Emperor to decide what her future is.  The Emperor sees the darkness and ruthlessness in Sabé, so he encourages Vader to continue to mold her as an asset.  I get that.  After all, she's the Queen's Shadow turned just a Shadow, as Vader says.  

Their first assignment together is on Skako Minor, where Wat Tambor's grandson, Jul, is stirring up trouble.  (Vader killed Wat at the end of the Clone Wars.)  Vader sends Sabé to infiltrate Jul's organization.  I get that, too.

But Pak doesn't even try to explain why Sabé is still playing this game.  Once Vader betrayed her by surrendering her to the Emperor (and not confronting the Emperor for his lies, as Sabé believed they were doing), why didn't she leave at the first opportunity?  She didn't kill Vader because she trusted Padmé that there was good in Vader, but surely she has to see now that she was wrong.  

Pak's failure to address her motives is making this story all the more unbelievable than it already is.

X-Men #16:  Ugh.  I actually liked this story more than I thought I would, except Duggan undoes decades of Alex's development and growth by turning him into an impetuous and jealous child (metaphorically, not literally).  

The X-Men's mission is almost ruined when Alex suddenly - and for no reason that I can see - attacks Scott over the fact that Scott didn't support Alex joining the X-Men.  Why they're having this fight in the middle of a high-risk mission, Duggan doesn't say.  But Alex's attack accidentally (and conveniently) releases the real Perro (who Forge is impersonating inside the Vault).  It takes the X-Men's best efforts to get Perro into stasis again.  It's a cool fight, but I was enraged the entire time given how it started.

Meanwhile, the issue's preamble showed Forge approaching Sinister to help him build his suit, and the identity of the third mutant whose gifts Forge used to build it remains a mystery.  It seems this mutant's gift will allow Forge to escape the Vault quickly, though his plan is set back a bit when it turns out the mutant he detected is Laura, not Darwin.

Forge is now worried Darwin is dead and the Children of the Vault have his powers, though I feel like he's underestimating Darwin's powers.  After all, if he could live for decades inside Vulcan, couldn't he live inside Laura?  I guess we'll see.

Six-Month-Old Comics: The September 21 and 28 Non-Event Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

New Mutants #30 (September 21):  Ayala's run on "New Mutants" has been a mixed bag for me, though I've never questioned her love of the characters.  When the first story's text box describes young Sam as "'nigh invulnerable while blastin'," I knew she took this 40th anniversary assignment seriously.

For old-school fans, this issue is a wonderful reminder of where we've been.  In the first story, Danielle recalls when she first realized who Roberto really was behind his arrogance, when he repaired her belt after he damaged it in the Danger Room.  I was totally crying by the end.  I also loved the unexpected delight of seeing Karma and Shatterstar heading to a queer festival.  It occurs during an era where both Karma and Shatterstar were emerging from other people defining them, and Shatterstar pushes Karma to experience joy as her authentic self.  It was just lovely.  It was the friendship I didn't know I needed.  If Ayala is leaving the title, I wouldn't mind her penning the unexpected break-out hit of 2024, "Karma and Shatterstar!"

As Ayala said, this issue exists as a stand-alone way to celebrate these characters who mean so much to so many of us, and it succeeds wonderfully.  To another 40 years!

Star Wars:  Darth Vader #27 (September 21):  I don't know why, but, man, I just find this entire Sabé saga boring as hell.  Maybe it's because any feelings that Vader's interactions with Sabé inspire in him are just a replay of what we've previously seen ad nauseam between him and Padmé.  Maybe it's because the revelation that the Emperor was the one directing Governor Tauntaza's actions as a way to test Vader also isn't novel.  Whatever it is, I just hope Pak wraps it up soon.

X-Terminators #1 (September 21):  I have no idea what the $*%& is going on here, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the $%^* outta it.

Old Dog #1 (September 28):  Shalvey overdoes it in using a split narrative to tell this story.  I understand why he did it, since it sets up the shocking reveal at the end, that old man Lynch from the past is young man Lynch in the present.  But it was sufficiently confusing (even after reading the issue twice) that I don't feel inspired to return next issue.

Sins of the Black Flamingo #4 (September 28):  I can't tell to what extent I'm enjoying this series because I'm blinded by the incredible hotness of Moore's art.  I mean, that opening sequences alone...woof.  The plot isn't terrible, though it's pretty predictable.  But again thirst so...

Merrilee Pepper, our blond villainess and "curator of the Museum of American Heritage and Culture [and] Grand Dragon of the Florida Klan," walks us through Ezekiel's history.  It turns out some post-Revolutionary War era luminaries summoned him, only for God to burn them for their heresy.  But the criminal they hired to bring them the corpse that Ezekiel would inhabit watched from the shadows and collected the angel from the ruins.  

Sebastian is weirdly (and pretty unbelievably) oblivious here, as Merrilee has to tell him the obvious:  Scar was the criminal, and he's been using Ezekiel's blood to stay alive these last 200 years.  Of course, Merrilee wants the angel for herself to set up a 1,000-year Reich (because it needs a "1,000-year bitch" to lead it).  Sebastian and Merrill arrive at the rendezvous point with his friends, and Ezekiel surrenders himself to Merrilee all the while knowing that Scar is coming for him.  Scar does and, thanks to his trusty rocket launcher, takes Ezekiel.  

When Merrilee makes contact later, Sebastian offers her Ezekiel if she helps him defeat Scar.  Merrilee is too smart to fall for that trap, but they need each other if they're going to take out Scar, so I'm guessing we're going to see some fun double-crossing next issue.  And maybe some cock?

Star Wars:  Han Solo and Chewbacca #6:  Oof, this issue is a mess.  It's hard to follow all the various interactions here, as we haven't really had a good enough introduction to Tanna's crew to know who's who.  

Surprising no one except Tyra, when the crew gets to the Falcon, the urn is gone.  Along the way, we're introduced to a young thief named Phaedra who wants to use two other prisoners (Evazan and Ponda from "Star Wars") and Chewie and Max to escape from the Marshalls' prison.  

I also just realized in this issue that T'onga is part of Tanna's crew, which makes me wonder where we are timeframe-wise.  Also, Han has somehow washed ashore on a tropical island, despite the fact that he was dead in Tanna's ship last issue.  It's all...a lot.

X-Men #15 (September 28):  Duggan returns us to the Vault here, as Forge reveals to Cyclops that, at the Council's request, he has built an enormous gun point at the Vault.  He plans to use it to shoot a black hole into the Vault the next time the door opens.  Unfortunately, the gun misfires, for reasons that aren't explained, and the fourth generation of the Children of the Vault lay waste not only to Earth but also Asgard.

In a clever reveal, though, it turns out we're seeing what the Children think happened.  Duggan has Cassara repeat the scene of Forge walking through the forest to the Vault with Cyclops, only, this time, Forge reveals not a gun but a dome over the Vault.  It turns out he created a Matrix-like simulation within the dome; the events that we just saw occurred within the dome, though the Children think it's all real.  Clever, right?

I was wondering why Duggan was telling this story, if Forge has neutralized the threat, until we learn that they're at the Vault to rescue Darwin.  The X-Men accompanied Forge to take out the Vault's guardians who exist outside the dome but somehow don't see it as a threat, in a convenient bit of storytelling.  Using a suit comprised of Caliban and somehow embued with Mystique's powers, Forge enters the dome disguised as Perro, one of the Children.  Jean expresses concern about the suit falling into the Children's hands, which Forge dismisses, which means it'll definitely happen.

As clever as it all is, part of me wonders why we keep returning to this story.  The authors and editors seem to feel like the Children are much more interesting than they actually are.

Six-Month-Old Comics: The August 31 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Knights of X #5:  Overall, I liked the story that Howard tells here, as Betsy and company resurrect Gambit and, in so doing, somehow connect the Siege Perilous with Krakoa.   But the execution was terrible.  She spends the entire issue telling, and not showing, us the story.  For example, the climactic battle - where the entirety of Krakoa takes on King Arthur's army - is reduced to a splash page.  Overall, it's sufficiently anticlimactic to make it hard for me to recommend this miniseries unless you're really committed to Betsy's story.

Moon Knight:  Black, White & Blood #4:  Man, this series was terrible.

Star Wars:  Obi-Wan Kenobi #4:  Cantwell continues to use this series as a way of exploring the darker sides of the galaxy far, far away.  It's exactly the type of stories that I wish we'd see more often.

The issue begins with Obi-Wan recalling the final days of the war, where "victories" like the one he describes on Atraken still resulting in millions of dead and the planet left uninhabitable.  He recalls that he and Anakin were the closest during this period, perhaps due to the need to help each other "purge the shrouds of shadow that threatened to fall across [them]."  Hello, foreshadowing.

Anakin and Obi-Wan arrive for a briefing from Admiral Yularen who asks if Obi-Wan remembers Commander Mekedrix from the Battle of Abrion Bridge.  (He does.)  Mekedrix apparently continued serving the Republic after Abrion Bridge, including at the Battles of Ryloth, of Saleucami, and at the Temple of Eedit (battles from the first, second, and third seasons of "Star Wars:  Clone Wars," respectively).  Yularen informs the pair that Mekedrix went rogue after the Temple of Eedit and formed an execution squad called the Death Wind.  

The Death Wind apparently has no allegiance, striking both Clone Trooper detachments as well as Commerce Guild and Confederacy of Independent Systems high-ranking officials.  Yularen and the Republic's military leadership worry Mekedrix is irrevocably broken given the lack of coherence to the Death Wind's targets, and Yularen essentially orders Anakin and Obi-Wan to assassinate him.  Despite the earlier foreshadowing, Anakin is outraged in a way that Obi-Wan isn't.  Cantwell does a great job here, showing how Obi-Wan and Yularen's lack of shock of the Republic getting into the assassination business is only a few steps from Mekedrix's brokenness.

As Anakin and Obi-Wan's journey through Ando's swamps, Cantwell is clearly miming "Apocalypse Now," particularly when they discover Clone Trooper effigies before arriving at the Sith temple Mekedrix has taken as his own.  When they find Mekedrix bearing a sword made from a Clone Trooper's bones, it isn't exactly a surprise.  Mekedrix believes he "freed" his victims by showing them the truth, that annihilation is our existence's goal.  Obi-Wan tries to get him to see that life exists outside death, but it's too late:  he attacks Obi-Wan with the sword, resulting in Anakin impaling him with his light saber.  With his dying words, Mekedrix admits he used Anakin as "suicide by Jedi," if you will.

Cantwell's use of Anakin is the most interesting here, and I'd love to see Marvel put him on a series that explored Anakin's fall.  Anakin is the most morally grounded character in this issue, and Cantwell hints that it's because he's the one still struggling with his demons.  Mekedrix, Obi-Wan, and Yularen have all resigned themselves to the war that dominates their lives, though obviously with different outcomes.  Anakin's struggle with the violence and how it fits his moral code is unresolved, opening the door to the Emperor's manipulation later.

I feel like this series is a must for any fan of the "Star Wars:  Clone Wars."  I can't recommend it enough.

X-Men #14:  This issue is weird for a tie-in issue, since the X-Men basically treat the Eternals' invasion of Krakoa as an inconvenience.  In a way, they're not wrong, as some gamblers who don't know Gameworld isn't in business anymore dump a flare torpedo in the Sun to take out Earth.  It doesn't help the mutants if they survive the Eternals only to die with Earth.

Bobby creates an ice shield around the planet, and the rest of the X-Men take care of the falling ice after the shield holds.  Unfortunately, Duggan decides to use Bobby's heroism as a way to have Bobby come out publicly in the media.  His speech is shunted to one of this era's beloved interstitial pages, which makes it feel awkward and obligatory.  The subsequent Norma Rae speech the journalist delivers to her editor at the end after he tries to take out the gay part is particularly cringe.  

In fact, the most interesting part of the issue is that Scott declares that Jean is his wife when he arrives at the Progenitor for judgment.  The Hickman era has never really address Jean and Scott's relationship, and I'm hoping this hint is a sign that we're going to get the back story soon.  Also, is everyone just wandering up the Progenitor's way?  Is that how it works?

In other words, Duggan makes the odd decision to use a tie-in issue as a way to address two pretty emotional and significant developments in Bobby, Jean, and Scott's lives.  It's a shame, in my book.  I wish Marvel would find a way to get back to some of the great character moments that Hickman managed to include during the early days of his era.

Also Read:  Amazing Fantasy #1,000

Six-Month-Old Comics: The August 17 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

New Mutants #28:  This issue is a weird conclusion to Ayala's story as it feels like we skipped a chapter or something.

Illyana and company have spent weeks hiding in a cave while Illyana instructs Madelyne in magic and tries to reforge the Soulsword.  The action begins when she agrees with Madelyne that it's time to complete the ritual that binds Madelyne to her promise not to attack Krakoa.  With the ritual complete, they can take the fight to S'ym.  

In addition to me feeling like we skipped an issue given that we pick up weeks after last issue's ending, the next few pages are essentially an issue in and of themselves as the party waltzes right into S'ym's throne room.  It would've been fun to see them battle their way through S'ym's hordes.  Alas, we don't.

Surprising probably no one, Ayala reveals that an Illyana who decided to stay in Limbo to fix it (rather than return to Earth as our Illyana did) is the power behind S'ym.  She needs to destroy Illyana to solidify her powers, but Madelyne kills her first.  Wah-wah.  As a result, our Illyana absorbs the other Illyana's powers, presenting us with another seemingly unified Illyana.

Several other authors - notably Zeb Wells during his "Fall/Rise of the New Mutants" storyline in "New Mutants" (2009) - have "healed" Illyana.  For various reasons (and likely editorial fiats), though, it's never really stuck.  Ayala may succeed because she gives us a pretty solid narrative about how both Illyana and Madelyne are putting behind what hurt them (the mutants, in Madelyne's case, and Limbo, in Illyana's) and embracing what saved them (the opposites, for each of them).

I'm hoping this duality is enough to give Illyana a shot at a new iteration.  As Colossus says to Madelyne here, the Powers That Be have given X-Men like him so many chances:  it feels like Illyana deserves at least one.  On the plus side, Ayala makes the right decision in using the space that she does have to put Illyana and Peter on the road to reconciliation, which is filled with so much hurt that I can't even remember why they're not speaking.  It's like they're the Real Housewives of Krakoa.  (Marvel, if you're reading, I would totally read that series.)

Star Wars #26:  This issue is random and terrible, and I'm not even talking about the art.  I love Soule, but he bounces around so much in this issue that you're never really sure which events are important and which ones are filler.  

The only promising development comes in the final scenes as we're introduced to two Imperial employees turned Crimson Dawn spies.  Once activated, they flee (with their children) from the black site where they work to inform the Rebellion about its power.  Said site?   The second Death Star.  Dun-dun-DUN!

Undiscovered Country #20:  It's been a while since I've read one of these issues, and I was pleased to see Valentina is as impatient with the constant loop as I am.  I'd normally consider it pet peeve #3 but, honestly, I totally feel her.

We begin with Charlotte and Valentina resurrecting in Revolutionary America for the third time, awakening right before Paul Revere rides by them to warn...well, you know.  They take out Revere to abscond with his horse and find Uncle Sam, who apparently killed them one of the two previous times.  Threatening him with a Zone Possibility gun Daniel gave them, they demand the truth.  Surprisingly, Sam gives it to them:  they've the key, and Ace, Chang, and Janet are the door.

Speaking of the other members of the group, they're in Hegemony, a different "channel" in History.  They're also currently on the run as Hegemony considers them war criminals.  The Destiny Man isn't the only doppelgänger here, as his assistant confirms that Hegemony's elderly versions of Chang and Janet are still locked under tight security in the Black Cells in Hamburg.

Back in Revolutionary America, Sam admits that he doesn't know more than he's told the women because Aurora is getting "strange:"  he says it feels like she's "flailing, trying to course-correct."  He suggests they're resurrecting because Aurora wants Charlotte and Valentina to observe something in History that they'll need later.  He then shoots them.  Instead of respawning in Revolutionary America, they find themselves in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Meanwhile, in Hegemony, the trio successfully flee their pursuers, and an AEA agent and PAPZ agent contact them to help.  I was happily surprised to learn that we're in Beijing in 2074, 15 years after the team left for the United States.  It's a great twist, followed by another one:  Chang and Janet eventually leave the United States and convinced the AEA and PAPZ to invade, starting World War IV.  The United States obviously wins in this scenario, but I wonder if we're going to see one where they lose.

A.X.E.:  Death to the Mutants #1:  This issue isn't the easiest to follow and mostly covers ground we've covered elsewhere.  For example, the Eternals actually conduct the séance that we briefly saw in "A.X.E.:  Judgment Day" #2, but it isn't really all that illuminating (or interesting).  

The most significant event that we haven't previously seen is the Forgotten, Ikaris Kingo, and Sprite infiltrating the Eternals' armory and opening the door to Magic, Wolverine (Laura Kinney), and (I think) Jean Grey.  While the mutants shut off the Hex's power supply, Ikaris takes out Zuras by doing what I've always thought Eternals' enemies should do, namely shunting part of Zuras' brain into another dimension so he's immobilized but can't be resurrected because he's still alive.  

Most interestingly, the Forgotten and Ikaris ponder whether the new god's decree that everyone has to justify themselves is a racially segregated one.  In other words, if the Eternals are found lacking, are they removed from Earth, even if enough of Earth's inhabitants meet the new god's test?  I guess we'll see.

X-Men #13:  We get another "A.X.E.:  Judgment Day" tie-in issue here, this time expanding on what happened after Ikaris and company opened the door to the Eternals' armory to the mutants in "A.X.E.:  Death to the Mutants" #1.  It isn't all that enthralling.  It turns out Magik led the new X-Men team (minus Jean and Scott) into the armory.  With few options, Bobby and Synch froze the engine that fuels the Hex.  It's fairly anti-climactic since, as we see at the end, it's really the new god's arrival that saves Krakoa from the Hex, not the X-Men's actions here.  That said, it does seem like each group is getting judged individually as implied in "A.X.E:  Death of the Mutants" #1, so we'll see how it all goes.  I'll admit any excitement I had for this event is starting to wane.

Three-Month-Old Comics: The June 22 Edition - Part Two (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Newburn #8:  To save Emily, Newburn has Sumire's boyfriend (i.e, the Yakuza head's actual murderer) take the fall for the Albano nephew's murder and turns over Sydney (i.e., Emily's academy classmate involved in the death of said nephew) to the Albanos to satisfy their need for revenge.

To be honest, I'm not sure I buy either outcome.  The Yakuza head's (i.e., Sumire's husband's) murder remains unsolved, and it seems weird the Yakuza would be OK with the other criminal elements believing that they just let their head's murder go unavenged.  Moreover, the Albano head seemed pretty bound and determined in both this issue and last issue to get both Sydney and Emily.  The Albano family even sent guys to kill Emily outside the police station, which, as I said last issue, was reckless at best (and ridiculous at worst).  Newburn watches the Albanos torture and presumably murder Sydney, so maybe he struck some sort of a deal with them.  But we're never told why they would accept it.  For that matter, we're never actually told how Emily and Sydney were involved in the nephew's death.  Emily claims that it was an accident, but we have no further details.  [Update:  I eventually realized that I somehow missed issue #6, which shows us how Emily accidentally kills the Albano nephew to protect Syd.]

Along the way, Newburn loses his shit on McGinty when she balks at the deal he strikes with Sumire's boyfriend.  With Newburn telling her that he runs the town, Zdarksy definitely seems to imply that Newburn may have officially gotten too big for his britches.  I don't see the upcoming next volume as going well for Newburn.

New Mutants #26:  Now this issue I love.

Following Rahne as she hears combat sounds, the team (such as they are) comes across an aged Illyana wielding a Warlock arm.  As the team watches, she takes out a horde of demons infected with the techno-organic virus and then invites the team into her fortress.  

Inside, aged Illyana reveals that she's from a future where S'ym breaking the Soulsword left her and her teammates indefinitely trapped in Limbo.  Her versions of Dani, Madelyne, and Rahne have all died, though she's survived because Warlock arrived from Earth after Krakoa fell.  She discovered that Warlock's essence wounded the demons who attack her fortress every few weeks, so she crafted a spell around that.  Both she and Warlock are weakening, though.  She hopes to take out the horde's mysterious leader and return to Earth, but she doubts she can do that given the current state of their powers.

Our Illyana sees the flaw in her plan.  She has aged Illyana challenge S'ym (the horde's "mysterious" leader) and use Warlock to take control of his techno-organic virus when he touches her.  She destroys S'ym and de-viruses the horde.  Our Illyana uses S'ym's core to create a Soulsword temporarily, and she and the team decimate the de-virused horde.  

In the epilogue, aged Illyana declines to go with the team so she can address her own losses.  The team goes to find a way to fix what's preventing Illyana from summoning the Soulsword permanently.

In addition to the excellent plot, which finally does something with Illyana as a person for the first time in a long time, the art is excellent.  This arc is really righting this series' footing after it's spent so much time adrift lately.

Star Wars:  Crimson Reign #5:  Soule is smart enough to make clear that Qi'ra didn't think that she was going to defeat the Emperor in a fair fight.  

As Qi'ra knew he eventually would, the Emperor puts two and two together and realizes that Crimson Dawn is responsible for his and Vader's recent setbacks:  the Hutt Council's attack on Vader's flagship, the Syndicate War, Zahra's failure to take out the Rebel Fleet (a stretch), his Royal Guards' assassination.  The Emperor brings in Director Barsha, the head of the Imperial Security Bureau division focused on the criminal gangs, to confirm that Crimson Dawn is behind these moves.  (It's clear Barsha will play an important role in the next event because his face is covered in shadows.)  The Emperor then launches his counterattack.

Knowing said attack was coming, Qi'ra puts into action her next plan.  She sends the Knights of Ren with the Archivist to use the Screaming Key they took from Vader's citadel to activate some sort of creature, which I'm guessing will provide Qi'ra with a connection to the Force, either directly or indirectly.  (Based on the Emperor and Vader's conversation, Maul told Qi'ra about the creature.  The Archivist herself didn't believe it was real.)  Qi'ra then activates her network to create chaos for the Empire, announcing it as her Hidden Empire.

I'll be honest, I'm not sure this story need a third arc.  Sure, it was interesting to see what Qi'ra had planned after "Star Wars:  War of the Bounty Hunters."  It seems difficult to believe, though, that she's going to accomplish anything more than annoying the Emperor with guerrilla-war tactics now that he's focused on her.  I guess we'll see.

X-Men #12:  This issue is pretty great.  

I love the possibility that Dr. Stasis isn't Mr. Sinister but Nathaniel Essex, who despises Mr. Sinister for taking Thunderbird's DNA and polluting himself with mutant genes.  (Did we know that he took Thunderbird's DNA?)  Of course, as Cyclops says, I use "the possibility" here because it's anyone guess whether this guy really is Essex.  That said, it doesn't really matter; he thinks that he is.  To be fair, he does seem significantly less crazy than Sinister.  He apparently also has a secret mission to save a boy, but he'll get to that after he destroys the X-Men, natch.  

Later, Cyclops and Synch meet with Ben Ulrich to give him back his notebook and confirm that mutants are immortal.  As Scott said, if the X-Men don't stand for the truth, they're just another Council "and the world has enough of those."  Heh.  Cyclops is anticipating his actions may cost him a spot on the roster, which prompts a discussion about who'll stand for re-election at the upcoming Gala.  At this point, it's Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Synch, and maybe Wolverine.  Meanwhile, Essex has his own plans for the "fall of the mutants" at the Gala, which involves a woman. 

Oh, also, the ladies defeated Cordyceps Jones and saved trillions of lives in the process.  Lorna may have found a handsome man to kiss and/or slap.  You should really read the issue to see why that line is so fucking funny.

Man, it's a good time to be a X-Men fan.

Three-Weeks-Old Comics: The May 11 (2022) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Captain America:  Symbol of Truth #1:  Honestly, I prefer Sam Wilson stories to Steve Rogers ones at this point.  To make matters even better, Onyebuchi and Silva are a spectacular team.  Silva provides us action sequences that exude kinetic energy, and Onyebuchi finds the perfect combination of Sam Wilson falcon-eyed social commentary and, as Misty says, "typical Captain America #%$&."  I'm also thrilled to see Joaquín and Misty in the rotation.

In terms of the plot, Onyebuchi has a lot of pots on the stove.  First, we've got the mission at hand in this issue.  Mistry provides Sam intel that someone is smuggling Super-Soldier Serum on a train through the Southwest.  Sam and Joaquín arrive at the train at the same time as a group of unaffiliated mercenaries.  Sam and Joaquín eventually defeat the mercs, but Sam learns from the train's conductor that they hadn't even picked up their cargo yet.  Moreover, Joaquín discovers his cousin from Sonora with other immigrants in one of the cars. 

After the battle, Sam talks with a blond woman - who may or may not be Sharon Carter - who works for anti-immigration Senator Mansfield, who sent the Marines to help with arresting the defeated merc.  At Sam's suggestion, Joaquín accompanies his cousin and the other immigrants to the Mansfield-run, off-the-books immigration facility.  Meanwhile, Cap is left wondering why the mission was a bust, as they saw no sign of the Serum.

At the Cumberland Federal Correctional Institute, the White Wolf approaches a slim-seeming Crossbones to work for him.  He says that he's recently gotten into pharmaceuticals, so I assume that he's involved in the Serum debacle.  But, he also wants to overthrow a few countries and have Crossbones kill Sam, so he's a busy guy.

Again, it's a great start to this series, and I'm thrilled to see Sam back in action with the shield.

Moon Knight:  Black, White & Blood #1:  The saddest commentary on this issue is that the most easily understood story is the one told backwards.  The Hickman/Bachalo story is almost incomprehensible due to Bachalo's art, and the Ayodele/Akande story could've been fun if it didn't read like Ayodele wrote it in 15 minutes.  The Guggenheim/Fornés story is the best of the bunch, but it's not where good enough to justify the price.

X-Men #11:  This issue is pretty straight-forward.  

First, we learn that Cordyceps Jones used his powers to infect Mojo's shareholders, "convincing" them to sell him Gameworld lest he kill them.  Mojo orders his minion to make it seem like he's shorting Earth at Gameworld, thereby attracting Cordyceps to Earth and, to Mojo's mind, his downfall.  Jean, Polaris, Rogue, and Wolverine arrive on Gameworld, but everything doesn't go to plan when Cordyceps uses his powers to take over Wolverine and possibly Jean.  

Meanwhile, Synch uses Wolverine's power to follow Dr. Stasis' trail (after he killed Scott) through the sewers, and Cyclops discovers that Stasis is Mr. Sinister, though a version of him who doesn't recognize Cyclops.  

Duggan has a lot going on here, but he's doing a great job keeping them all clear and exciting.  Larraz is also on fire; the entire issue is a joy to behold.

Two-Month-Old Comics: The Superhero March 2 (2022) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #91 (March 2):  I love Kelly Thompson, but I'll admit that her humor-based approach didn't feel like the best fit for this issue.  I mean, yes, it was the right fit for the demonic multiplying kitties, obviously.  But, the main point of this issue is Ben's increasing descent into madness as he loses more and more memories.  Thankfully, he remembers enough to go after Maxine but unleashes a souped-up Lizard on Colleen, Misty, and Peter so that they don't get in his way.  I get that he's unstable, but we never really get insight into why he thought that they'd get in his way.  In other words, it isn't a terrible issue, but I'd have enjoyed it more if Thompson treated Ben a little more seriously.   

Devil's Reign:  X-Men #2 (March 2):  To my mind, this issue is tied with "Edge of Spider-Verse" #2 (which introduced Spider-Gwen) as the best tie-in issue of all time.  I'd love to read a Duggan/Noto series about Emma's misadventures in '80s and '90s New York.  

In the past, Emma helps Elektra extricate Isabelle, the girl who witnessed her "work" last issue, before Kingpin can eliminate her.  Duggan shows a more brutal New York here than we typically saw in that era's superhero comics.  Kingpin learns about Isabelle after she tells her foster parents about what she saw and they go to the police hoping to collect a tipster reward.  (The police naturally tip off Kingpin.)  Emma is appalled that they just left her alone.  It all fits with Emma walking a darker road during that era than Daredevil or Spider-Man (which is saying a lot).  

When Elektra needs a hand taking out the cops that Kingpin sent to kill Isabelle so that Emma and Isabelle can escape, Emma calls in Spider-Man since he's swinging through the neighborhood.  It results in one of the issue's best scenes, when Emma reads Peter's mind to see why he does what he does.  "You were just a boy," she remarks, sadly, as she scans his memories.  She then kisses him on the cheek and thanks him for what he does before wiping his memory of their encounter.  Emma escapes with Isabelle, but one of the photographers that Kingpin has observing Emma gets a photo of her doing so.  

In the present, Kingpin uses the photo to accuse Emma of Isabelle's disappearance, which leads Emma to London to ask a now-adult Isabelle to appear in court.   Before Emma can find Isabelle, Union Jack arrests her so the United States can extradite her to stand trial for Isabelle's disappearance.  

Again, this issue is beyond excellent.  It opens with Emma interacting with all sorts of Marvel characters; my favorite vignette is a tie between her impersonating Sue Storm to mortgage the Baxter Building for $200 million and her interrupting a handcuffed Nick Fury during sex to get him to ignore something for Kingpin.  Duggan is definitely not pretending that Emma is a saint.  But, he picks up a theme that we've seen in "Marauders," as Emma helps remove girls and women like Isabelle and Lourdes Chantel from bad situations.

In other words, I'd be worried if I were Kingpin.

Moon Knight #9 (March 2):  Although we learn that Marc is now operating from a bar through pet peeve #1, I'll try to temper my annoyance.  After all, this issue is all about the Midnight Mission's destruction and Marc rebuilding it with his own Krakoa in the form of the House of Shadows.  It's brilliant, honestly.  Along the way, we're treated to Marc figuring out the House's identity as he's lost in its maze.  Given that "Devil's Reign" is still ongoing, McKay manages to deliver a self-contained issue that advances the series' overall plot without spoiling "Devil's Reign" outcome.  It's a high tightrope to walk, and McKay does it perfectly.

X-Men #9 (March 2):  I read somewhere that Abigail Brand was a traitor to the X-Men, but I didn't realize that it meant she was an Orchis Board member.  Jesus.  Given that we also don't know the identities of the "Culture/Narrative" and "Sociology/Modeling" chairs, I'm guessing that she isn't going to wind up being the only surprising Board member.  (Has anyone heard from Val Cooper in a while?)  

But, unless you're a former political-science major like me, the best part of this issue is Destiny and Remy squabbling as Remy and Rogue take out the denizens of a bar on a moon, Oblitus, that replaced Knowhere.  (Yay, Cosmo!)  Destiny quipping, "Hate you" as she mimes strangling Gambit is one of the best scenes I've seen in comics in a while!

Meanwhile, Duggan builds another story here, as we learn Arakko wants someone to find Redroot, the Forest, who apparently wound up trapped in Otherworld.  She seems to have chosen Sunfire as her champion, so that should be fun.  I also just want to note that Storm's new costume - particularly her headdress - is really spectacular.

In other words, Duggan being Duggan, he manages to keep a number of plots of burners without leaving you feeling bored or confused.  It's still a great time to be an X-Men fan!

Also Read:  Devil's Reign:  Spider-Man #1 (March 2)

Three-Month-Old Comics: The Superhero February 16 and 23 (2022) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #89 (February 16):  This issue is a totally serviceable origin story for Queen Goblin.  It walks us through her "Goblin Gaze" ability, which allows her to twist her victim's most deep-seated fear(s) into their dominant thoughts.  Black Cat almost commits suicide under Queen Goblin's influence, but Peter saves her at the last minute.  It turns out Ben sent Janine to talk to Peter at the hospital and Janine freed Peter from his bed after Felicia webbed him to it so that he wouldn't take on Queen Goblin while still wounded.  (Confusing, I know.)  It's pretty clear that Peter isn't really healthy enough to take on Queen Goblin, but that's never stopped him before.

X Lives of Wolverine #3 (February 16):  Percy does a solid job of keeping the three time periods in which Wolverine is active distinct here, but it still isn't the easiest of issues to follow.  

It is clear, though, that Marvel Girl, Professor X, and Wolverine are losing the battle.  Mikhail's control over the Cerebro Sword is improving, now allowing him to send Omega Red against Xavier's ancestor in Canada while at the same time sending him against Wolverine in Japan.  When Omega Red manages to take over Wolverine in Colombia, the situation goes from bad to worse.  

The best part of this series so far is that we get to see Wolverine as a person with actual feelings.  Watching him fight to save Daken's life before it begins was moving, and Logan is clear with Jean that he's struggling under his memories' emotional weight.  Logan is often portrayed as simply a killing machine, and Percy is doing a great job of putting that impression to rest.

X-Men #8 (February 16):  Oof, this issue is a lot.  It turns out Synch was the one to mindwipe Ben Ulrich only to discover that he thought that the X-Men were miracles, not threats.  The guilt over that discovery and the trauma of losing his Laura are too much for him.  After a dangerous and hilarious battle with M.O.D.O.K. on a cruise ship, Everett tells Cyke that he's thinking of leaving the X-Men.  Cyclops being Cyclops (or, well, Captain Krakoa), Scott tells Synch that he's done being an X-Men when Scott says that he is.  It sounds like an asshole move, but Scott is pretty great here, comforting Everett by telling him that he (Cyclops) has done far worse than Everett did for significantly less benefit to mutantkind.  We're eight issues into this series, and I'm still loving everything that Duggan is doing here.

Amazing Spider-Man #90 (February 23):  This issue is solid, as Gleason deftly moves us to the endgame's start.  

Peter fights off Queen Goblin's Goblin Gaze before she convinces him to drown in the East River and then takes her off the board.  Before he does so, he snags her crown, which allows him, Black Cat, and MJ to overhear Maxine (through the crown's audio) sending crews to Beyond's Staten Island facility.  In a flashback, Janine informs Ben that Maxine is creating her super-villains at said facility, so Ben heads there after he drops off Janine at the hospital where Peter is (as we saw last issue).  

Given that Maxine threatened to send Janine back to prison, Ben pretty clearly sees himself as having nothing to lose here.  Janine and Peter are increasingly worried about him as he struggles to remember Peter's name when they meet.  I'm not sure Ben's getting a happy ending, guys.

X Deaths of Wolverine #3 (February 23):  I originally thought that Phalanx Logan (or Omega Logan, as Moira calls him) returned from the future to kill her as part of the machine's war against humanity and/or mutantkind.  But, Moira has a different take:  mutantkind wants her dead.  

Moira tips off the CIA so that they're on hand to protect Arnab Chakladar, the Epiphany CEO, when Omega Logan attacks him at his event.  She then follows Chakladar home and reveals to him that whatever collaboration evolves from this moment works because the mutants returned to prevent it.  (It made more sense when she said it.)  Meanwhile, the Wolverines confront Omega Logan only for him to inform them that Krakoa's Resurrection Protocols at some point fail.  

At his lab, Chakladar agrees to help Moira.  He builds a device that allows "for a mental upload, guaranteeing [Moira's] 11th life."  I'm surprised by how clever this development is, that Moira's 11th life has nothing to do with her mutant power.  If I'm reading my review of "Powers of X" #6 correctly, it appears that the future where she killed Logan in that issue goes differently, as she seems to delight in murdering Logan here (which she didn't in "Powers of X" #6).  

In the present, Omega Logan tells the Wolverines that his death at Moira's hands was the end of one story but the beginning of another one.

I have to admit that I'm still not really sure where we're going with "X Lives and Deaths of Wolverine."  "X Deaths of Wolverine" seems to tie up some loose ends related to the future story that Hickman told in "Powers of X" (my least favorite one, to be honest), and it seems unlikely that "X Lives of Wolverine" will end with Omega Red successfully killing Professor X.  But, I definitely still don't see how they tie together, though I guess we have time for that to become clear.

Also Read:  Ben Reilly:  Spider-Man #2 (February 23); Dark Ages #5 (February 23)

Four-Month-Old Comics: The Superhero January 26 (2022) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #87 (January 26):  My homosexual awakening was seeing Peter Parker in the cut-off "Animal" shirt in "Amazing Spider-Man" #249.  I want to thank Carlos Gómez from the bottom of my heart for resurrecting that shirt here.  I would also like to thank Jed McKay for giving us the Black Cat's quip-defining line, "Did you think I got bitten by a radioactive Eartha Kitt?"  

Beyond these excellent moments, McKay also delivers a solid story of Black Cat and Cap putting Peter through the paces to make sure that he's ready to resume the Spider-Man mantle.  Given that Ben seems to have significant cognitive issues at this point, the timing couldn't be better.  I'm also loving the Black Cat/MJ relationship, so I'm pretty excited about their one-shot.  I haven't made this statement in a long time, but it's an excellent time to be a Spider-Man fan.

Devil's Reign #3 (January 26):  Things aren't gong great for the heroes.  

Purple Man realizes that everyone's missing memory of Daredevil's secret identity feels familiar and thus is likely his children's work.  Kingpin commits to finding them since he can use their powers to amplify his Psycho-Prism, as we're calling it.  

Meanwhile, Jessica Jones feels the Purple Man's influence, leading Daredevil to demand that the team take out Fisk that night.  Before they can do so, Otto attacks.  

It turns out the Ghost Rider, Hulk, and Wolverine that he brought through the inter-dimensional gate are versions of him who took out those heroes like he did Spider-Man.  Otto was also using the Chameleon acting as Iron Man to have him run for Mayor to steal the seat from Kingpin.  With the New Avengers deciding to run Luke Cage instead, Otto figures he'll just kill Kingpin.  

The issue ends with Kingpin's associates possibly killing Foggy, who's serving as the lawyer for all the imprisoned heroes.  Matt'll take that well.

Devil's Reign:  Winter Soldier #1 (January 26):  This issue is melodramatic in both art and script, as the creative team belabors the guilt that Bucky feels over his time as the Winter Soldier.  But, in terms of the plot, it fundamentally changes Bucky's status quo in a pretty great way.

First things first, I totally buy that Bucky goes after Fisk after he learns that Fisk's safe contains files on the superhero community.  Lanzing makes the point that Steve bringing back Bucky with the Cosmic Cube meant that the world could forgive him; but, Bucky has to do the work forgiving himself.  

Hoping Kingpin's files will provide him the information that he needs to start making amends, he breaks into Gracie Mansion.  He encounters Fisk and tells him that he sold his house in Indiana so that he can pay him for the file.  In a heart-breaking moment, he tells Fisk that he doesn't need a happy ending:  he just needs to sleep.  It turns out Fisk's worsening rage over Daredevil altering his mind has resulted in him violently sleepwalking, and Kingpin brutally attacks Bucky.  Bucky barely manages to escape.  

Burning the rest of the heroes' files in an alley, Bucky seems to discover that the U.S. military shared him with the U.S.S.R.:  he killed 374 people over 78 operational years, but only 91 of those kills were part of the Winter Soldier program.  Bucky commits to kill the people responsible for putting together the file, which we learn Fisk stole.  

Bucky sets his closure (and future ability to sleep) as contingent on his operators' deaths..  Does it mean that Bucky may finally be able to move onto the next stage?  I hope so.

Mary Jane & Black Cat:  Beyond #1 (January 26):  This issue is perfection.  First, the hook is great:  Felicia and MJ tear through the criminal underworld to get Parker Robbins back his Hood so that he doesn't kill Peter.  But, it's Felicia and MJ's conversation on the rooftop that makes this issue a must-read.  First, she tells Felicia that she understands why Felicia is worried that she's just the "bad girl" for Peter because she (MJ) was the bad girl.  (She also reminds Felicia that she (MJ) had to compete with a dead girl.)  Then, in a wonderful moment, MJ then tells Felicia that she's important to Peter and to her.  As MJ says, Felicia isn't a footnote in anyone's life.  I love that validation for Felicia and hope that we see more Felicia-MJ moments in the future.

X-Men #7 (January 26):  Continuing from last issue, we learn that the world thinks Scott died while saving a baby from raging chimeras that Dr. Stasis released in New York.  The truth, though, is more complicated:  Scott collapsed in an alley after one of the chimeras, Bornan, wounded him, and Dr. Stasis - disguised as a EMT - finished the job.  

Interestingly, Scott awakens with no memory of that day, including Dr. Stasis whispering his secret base's location to him as a challenge to come after him after he's resurrected.  Scott tells Jean about his and Ben Ulrich's memory holes and proposes that they've got a two front war:  one with the Quiet Council and one with Dr. Stasis, whose identity remains hidden to them.  He definitely doesn't seem wrong.

Four-Month-Old Comics: The Superhero January 5 and 12 (2022) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #84 (January 5) and #85 (January 12):  This story is a two-parter, so I'm reviewing these issues together.  

Per pet peeve #2, Ziglar reveals that Dr. Octopus didn't just discover in issue #80.BEY that Beyond was using the Spider-Man name that he trademarked but also some inventions that he created.  Needless to say, he isn't happy.  

In issue #84, he breaks into one of Beyond's offices to steal a drive that Maxine later underscores is essential to Beyond's operations.  Spidey tries to stop him, but Otto somehow manages to use Beyond's own security system against him.  We're also treated to some "classic Doug" (as Ben quips) when he runs into the guy who gave him the anti-"weirdness" pill in issue #80.  Ben's interaction with Doug is an issue #84 highlight.

In issue #85, Otto storms into Beyond HQ to recover his inventions and take out Maxine so that he can take over Beyond.  I have to say that I don't totally buy this part; it feels too impulsive for Otto.  At any rate, Ben arrives in time to save Maxine from Otto.  Their fight spills onto a nearby rooftop where Otto gives Ben the drive to show him that Beyond chose him due to his unstable psychological profile.  Ben loses his shit over the revelation, as it undermines the sense of belonging that he finally found at Beyond.  Later, he smashes a mirror that showed a faceless reflection, which mirrors (heh) a nightmare about a faceless Uncle Ben that he's been discussing with Dr. Kafka.

In other words, we're going places, and all directions seem bad for Ben.  Ben lies to Maxine and Janine here, telling them that his fight with Otto destroyed the drive.  Before Dr. Octopus' roof-top revelation, Ben seemed off-kilter most of this issue, obsessively focused on the idea that he belonged and that Beyond let him do good.  Now that he's adrift, I worry where we're going.

Inferno #4 (January 5):  This issue begins with a bang.  

Surprising Magneto and Professor X, Nimrod and Omega Sentinel kill the Orchis soldiers who arrived with them in Terra Nova.  They explain to Magneto and Professor X that they hate humans as much as they hate mutants.  They crow that Magneto and Professor X's nightmare has arrived:  mutantkind has conquered humanity only for its real enemy - machines - to arrive.  

Confirming what I thought last issue, Destiny and Mystique left behind Moira's arm to draw Magneto and Professor X to Terra Nova and escaped to somewhere else.  Moire "reminds" Mystique that she can't die, and Mystique disagrees.  Mystique shoots Moira who...

...doesn't die.  It looked like she did, thanks to the excellent art team.  But, it turns out Mystique shot Moira with the weapon that Forge created to strip mutants of their powers.  (Hickman really is Chekhov, man.)  Setting up the moment, Hickman expands the scene from last issue between Destiny, Emma, and Mystique.  Emma tells the pair that Moria's tracker is in her arm (I was wondering how they knew to leave behind her arm) and gives them Forge's weapon.  

In the present, a now-human Moira admits to Destiny and Mystique that her hard-won knowledge led her to believe that the only way mutants win is by not existing:  her goal was to "cure" mutants before they manifested, a cure that we saw her create in her third life.  I have to admit, Hickman really sells this moment.  Moira clearly has PTSD from a millennium's experience with death and war, to the point where it's hard to fault her for taking the position that she does.  Despite Omega Sentinel's insistence that the mutants always win, Moira claims that they always lose, either to the humans or the machines.  

Before Mystique can kill her, though, Doug arrives, looking sexy as fuck.  He reminds Mystique that Moira is now human, so Mystique can't kill her under Krakoa's laws.  Mystique declares that she's going to kill him instead, though Bei, Krakoa, and Warlock make it clear that it won't be easy.  Destiny tells Moira that Doug is the axis around which they all didn't know they spun.  By deciding to save Moira, Doug creates three possible outcomes:  1) Mystique is exiled for killing him, and Destiny dies six months later and isn't resurrected; 2) they fail to kill him, and Mystique dies but is likely resurrected; or 3) they agree to let Moira go, and she and Mystique consolidate powers as does Doug.  They obviously choose the latter.  

Doug has Warlock provide Moira with an arm and Krakoa with a one-way gate that will close to her forever once she passes through it.  In a hilarious scene, she asks if he's going to wish her luck before she goes through the gate, and he simply replies, "Nope."  She asks Destiny and Mystique if they'll come after her, and Destiny tells her that it won't just be them.

After dying at Nimrod's hands, Magneto and Professor X are later resurrected.  Since Nimrod crushed Cerebro, they don't remember their conflict with him.  They also awaken to learn about the changes that happened while they were dead.  Professor X is condescending as usual when he asks Emma what she's done, and her answer puts him in his place.  She told the Council all their secrets, and they all agreed that the only thing that Magneto and Professor X did wrong was keeping their secrets to themselves.  As Emma says, the Council now becomes a curse, and Professor X gets to resume his status as primus inter pares because he's the guiltiest of them all.  Ha!  So true.

All in all, this series was excellent, and Hickman leaves us wanting more, which I assume that we'll see addressed in "Immortal X-Men."  To whit:

• I have to assume that Magneto and Professor X didn't know what Moira was planning.  When they learn, they're going to have to confront the fact that Destiny and Mystique were correct and they were wrong.

• I'm curious how and when Moira was planning to act on curing mutantkind.  Why was it necessary to allow Krakoa to come into fruition before she acted?

• As Destiny said, Moira's future is also unclear.  Does she join Orchis?  Does she focus on stopping the machines?

• It'll be interesting to see how the power dynamics evolve on the Council.  After all, Magneto and Professor X were working with someone bent on destroying mutantkind, and it was Destiny and Mystique who saved the day. 

• Of course, Cypher stopped them from killing Moira, opening up a new power center on Krakoa.  Doug's ascendancy is the most interesting story for me going forward.

I've talked a lot of smack about Jonathan Hickman over the years.  But, I am just beyond thrilled with what he's done with the X-Men.  Fair winds and following seas, Jonathan.

X-Men #6 (January 5):  Holy fucking shit, this issue is fucking intense.  

The issue starts "a week ago" with the appearance of a hero dubbed Captain Krakoa.  Six days ago, Scott is furious when the Quiet Council insists that he has to accept Captain Krakoa onto the X-Men's roster.  

Meanwhile, Feilong arrives on Phobos to colonize it, a move that, frankly, the X-Men probably should've seen coming.  But, I didn't see it coming and, honestly, I laughed out loud when it happened.  Brilliant.  When an Arakkii mutant arrives to take out Feilong, Sunfire tries to stop him, but Feilong doesn't need the help:  he uses his post-human powers to incinerate him.  

Duggan first hinted that something is amiss when we learn that Feilong found Nightcrawler's corpse on Phobos.  But, it all comes to a head when Captain Krakoa arrives at the Treehouse with a memorial to Cyclops underway.  We learn that Cyclops died recently in a public manner and that he's Captain Krakoa.  

When a furious Scott calls Ben Ulrich, likely to confirm his resurrection story, Ben has no memory of it.  The last panel is haunting, as a stunned Scott sits on a subway platform alone.  I have no idea where Duggan is going here, but this issue is so perfectly executed that I cannot fucking wait. 

Darkhawk #5 (January 12):  This ending is solid because it leaves a lot on the table.  Normally, I'd be annoyed by that, but Higgins does it in a way that shows how much potential Connor has a character.  

First, Connor comes with a lot of drama.  Derek's sister resents the fact that Connor defined her brother's life, a point that the paparazzi appearing at Derek's funeral to get photos of Connor underlines.  Plus, Shawn reveals that he knows that Connor is Darkhawk after Darkhawk's too quick appearance after Connor's departure last issue.  (That said, I'm glad Higgins went this route, because plenty of other authors would've pushed our willful suspension of disbelief by having Shawn remain clueless.)  I assumed that Higgins was going to kill off Shawn since he knows Connor's secret identity, but he doesn't, which really catapults Shawn into arch-nemesis territory.  Moreover, Connor outs himself to his teammates about his multiple sclerosis, and they encourage him to keep playing while he can.  It's all a lot for a teenager.

But, the Darkhawk drama isn't insignificant either.  It seems like Chris Powell is alive at the Tree of Shadows, though given how menacing he seems it could also be someone else, like Robbie Rider.  I'm also loving Connor's friendship with Miles Morales, and I hope that continues.

Again, we don't get resolutions here, but Higgins hopefully convinces Marvel that Connor has enough juice to give him a monthly title.

Hawekye:  Kate Bishop #3 (January 12):  I've read virtually every issue with Kate Bishop in it, and I still have no idea what Nijkamp is doing with her here.  The "ring" that her sister hired her to find is also somehow a Cosmic Cube fragment that her sister swiped from either her ex-husband or her father.  I think?  Also, it appears that the Circus of Crime is responsible and likely arranged everything to entrap Kate.  Maybe?  Honestly, I have no fucking idea.

Marauders #27 (January 12):  "Marauders" wraps up more or less how I expected, which isn't a bad thing.  

Emma and Shaw leave their posts to focus on the Quiet Council, which I assume is driven more by the upcoming "Immortal X-Men" series than any real desire on their parts to abdicate the roles that have defined their adult lives.  Lourdes will replace Shaw, and the Five in One will replace Emma.  

Again, I'm not sure that I buy Shaw leaving so easily, though Duggan makes a good go at explaining it as Shaw seeing an opportunity for Shinobi to take over the Hellfire Trading Company, which women now run.   (It's nice that Shaw still views Shinobi as his son, despite Leland being Shinobi's biological father.). You'd think after Emma, Kate, and Storm have all recently beaten his ass that he'd be more enlightened.  Ah, Shaw.

Duggan also throws in a surprise, as Kate seems willing to give Mr. Fantastic the knowledge that Charles wiped from his mind so that she can use the gates.  This step seems incredible dangerous on Kate's part, a level of selfishness that we don't usually see from her.  As such, I'm assuming that she has something else up her sleeve here.

My only real disappointment is that Iceman is leaving, though I'm hoping that it means that we'll see him somewhere else.  I did enjoy the idea that he's off flexing his muscles, something that clearly excites Christian.  Omega top time!

Also Read:  Dark Ages #4 (January 12)