Guggenheim really wraps up this series nicely. The two teams are forced to work together to take down a resurrected Hodge, and Di Giandomenico and Woodard do a great job of showing us just how epic of a battle it is. Unlike "Age of Apocalypse," Guggenheim and Di Giandomenico have always done a great job of making it easy to keep everyone's allegiances straight. (I'm not sure what technique they used that Nicieza and Sandoval didn't, but there you have it.) As such, when the two teams combine, it makes it all the more impactful, since you know why it's a big deal. Moreover, it really sets up the ending: Havok, Rahne, and Tabitha sacrifice themselves to kill Hodge, and Rachel realizes that the teams need to unite as the X-Men once again to resurrect a devastated Genosha. If the test of these "Secret Wars" tie-in series is whether or not they portray a believable future of previous events, this one really succeeds. It might not be the best of the bunch, but it's a solid entry in the contest.
*** (three of five stars)
Showing posts with label X-Tinction Agenda (2015). Show all posts
Showing posts with label X-Tinction Agenda (2015). Show all posts
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
X-Tinction Agenda #3 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
This issue is pretty standard fare. Rogue and Triage are set to work trying to cure the Extinction Plague, the Genegineer uses the remains of Warlock's body to animate an adamantium skeleton that he built for Cameron Hodge, and the X-Men arrive to free their people. In the end, the Genegineer is successful, and the two teams of mutants are going to have to pull together to stop him. Guggenheim tries to infuse it with some emotion, but I'll admit that I'm finding it hard to engage with the story that he's telling. He seems to want me to see both sides, but it's hard to side with the X-Men, since their position is pretty much that the Genoshans should just die quietly and not bother them. Maybe they'll see the light next issue.
** (two of five stars)
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
X-Tinction Agenda #2 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
While this issue appears to be a pretty straight-forward action sequence, focusing on the Genoshans' attack on X-City, Guggenheim actually raises all sorts of larger questions in it.
First, Hank continues to be an enigmatic character and a number of this series' mysteries relate to him. For example, it's still not clear if he was correct in asserting that Triage wasn't going to be able to cure the Extinction Virus. If he wasn't, it raises the question if he was intentionally lying to Rachel and, if he was, why he was would do so. Moreover, Guggenheim makes it clear that he's not all that reliable. This Hank also brought back people from the dead to inspire the current crop of mutants; this time, it's Banshee, Thunderbird, and Wolverine, shortly after their victory over Krakoa. This revelation sparked two addition questions for me. First, why did Hank think morale on X-Topia was low? After all, it's presented as a Utopia. Second, does time travel still work on Battleworld? It's one thing for Doom to have pulled in alternate realities that extend previous storylines. But, Hank would've had to reach back into the history of the "X-Tinction Agenda" storyline to pluck James, Logan, and Sean from the past. How does that work?
Second, we learn that the Genegineer had the Genoshans rescue Triage so that he could use his healing powers not on the mutates (possibly supporting Hank's position that they won't work) but on Cameron Hodge. I get the dastardly nature of that plot, but it raises the obvious question of how the Genegineer gained Havoc and Wolfsbane's trust if he's still loyal to Hodge. I mean, clearly he isn't saying that he's loyal to him, but aren't they suspicious of him from the start?
But, the mysteries aren't the only part of the series. As I said, this issue also has an extended action sequence, and it's really amazing. I expect to see more in the future from Di Giandomenico. He really does a great job keeping a lot of different characters distinct on the battlefield. Similarly, Guggenheim manages to get across the conflicting emotions of all the major players, particularly Rachel, as they go to war with old friends.
In other words, it's another strong "Secret Wars" story, and I have to admit to my amazement that Marvel really seems to be making it work as well as it is.
*** (three of five stars)
First, Hank continues to be an enigmatic character and a number of this series' mysteries relate to him. For example, it's still not clear if he was correct in asserting that Triage wasn't going to be able to cure the Extinction Virus. If he wasn't, it raises the question if he was intentionally lying to Rachel and, if he was, why he was would do so. Moreover, Guggenheim makes it clear that he's not all that reliable. This Hank also brought back people from the dead to inspire the current crop of mutants; this time, it's Banshee, Thunderbird, and Wolverine, shortly after their victory over Krakoa. This revelation sparked two addition questions for me. First, why did Hank think morale on X-Topia was low? After all, it's presented as a Utopia. Second, does time travel still work on Battleworld? It's one thing for Doom to have pulled in alternate realities that extend previous storylines. But, Hank would've had to reach back into the history of the "X-Tinction Agenda" storyline to pluck James, Logan, and Sean from the past. How does that work?
Second, we learn that the Genegineer had the Genoshans rescue Triage so that he could use his healing powers not on the mutates (possibly supporting Hank's position that they won't work) but on Cameron Hodge. I get the dastardly nature of that plot, but it raises the obvious question of how the Genegineer gained Havoc and Wolfsbane's trust if he's still loyal to Hodge. I mean, clearly he isn't saying that he's loyal to him, but aren't they suspicious of him from the start?
But, the mysteries aren't the only part of the series. As I said, this issue also has an extended action sequence, and it's really amazing. I expect to see more in the future from Di Giandomenico. He really does a great job keeping a lot of different characters distinct on the battlefield. Similarly, Guggenheim manages to get across the conflicting emotions of all the major players, particularly Rachel, as they go to war with old friends.
In other words, it's another strong "Secret Wars" story, and I have to admit to my amazement that Marvel really seems to be making it work as well as it is.
*** (three of five stars)
Saturday, July 11, 2015
X-Tinction Agenda #1 (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Like everyone else so far writing these tie-in issues, Guggenheim does a great job of immersing us completely in the world that he's portraying in a short period of time. His task is a particularly grim one: he's telling the story of Genosha after the defeat of Cameron Hodge in the "X-Tinction Agenda." We learn that Alex and Rahne have stayed on the island to help the mutates recover, but a virus (not the Legacy Virus) threatens to wipe out the island.
Honestly, I was so engrossed in these first few pages that I was surprised when Alex and Rahne suddenly appear before Doom, reminding me that we were here because of "Secret Wars." We learn that Doom or Baron (Rachel) Grey of X-Topia have imposed a quarantine on the island, lest the virus wipe out the larger mutant population. With no good options, Alex and Rahne decide to attack X-Topia to extract Triage and Rogue to use their healing powers to save the mutates.
Guggenheim makes it clear that a lot is at foot here. First, X-Topia isn't listed on the Battleworld map. From a "Secret Wars" perspective, it raises all sorts of issues. We learn that Genosha has been isolated so long that the mutates don't know that Xavier is dead, but it's actually unclear to me if we're talking about the recent quarantine or if X-Topia itself is somehow removed from Battleworld. (We also don't know how Xavier and, apparently, Scott died.) Second, Rachel is sympathetic to the mutates' plight, but it seems like it's the Beast pushing her to keep them isolated. He's the one that declared that Triage and Rogue couldn't possibly save the mutates, but its seems weird to me that he just accepts that reality so readily. Finally, Genosha's Genegineer is apparently trying to resurrect Cameron Hodge, something that probably isn't going to go well for anyone.
I'm definitely intrigued to see how this story develops. First, it really raises some interesting moral dilemmas, such as the X-Men having to sacrifice their integrity to protect themselves from the mutates' virus. But, it also raises questions about how the mutants of Battleworld are faring. So far, I've only seen them in Limbo in "Inferno," and it's hard to say that it's going well for them there.
*** (three of five stars)
Honestly, I was so engrossed in these first few pages that I was surprised when Alex and Rahne suddenly appear before Doom, reminding me that we were here because of "Secret Wars." We learn that Doom or Baron (Rachel) Grey of X-Topia have imposed a quarantine on the island, lest the virus wipe out the larger mutant population. With no good options, Alex and Rahne decide to attack X-Topia to extract Triage and Rogue to use their healing powers to save the mutates.
Guggenheim makes it clear that a lot is at foot here. First, X-Topia isn't listed on the Battleworld map. From a "Secret Wars" perspective, it raises all sorts of issues. We learn that Genosha has been isolated so long that the mutates don't know that Xavier is dead, but it's actually unclear to me if we're talking about the recent quarantine or if X-Topia itself is somehow removed from Battleworld. (We also don't know how Xavier and, apparently, Scott died.) Second, Rachel is sympathetic to the mutates' plight, but it seems like it's the Beast pushing her to keep them isolated. He's the one that declared that Triage and Rogue couldn't possibly save the mutates, but its seems weird to me that he just accepts that reality so readily. Finally, Genosha's Genegineer is apparently trying to resurrect Cameron Hodge, something that probably isn't going to go well for anyone.
I'm definitely intrigued to see how this story develops. First, it really raises some interesting moral dilemmas, such as the X-Men having to sacrifice their integrity to protect themselves from the mutates' virus. But, it also raises questions about how the mutants of Battleworld are faring. So far, I've only seen them in Limbo in "Inferno," and it's hard to say that it's going well for them there.
*** (three of five stars)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)