Eleven-Month-Old Comics: The Superhero May 19 and 26 (2021) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #66 (May 19):  Assuming that it's Harry and not Norman at the end of this issue (a perpetual problem with them), I'm hoping we're getting somewhere.  At some point, we have to learn why Kindred adopted Harry's identity, but I'm assuming we'll get there.  Elsewhere, Carlie and Harry are locked in a prison somewhere.  Given that Overdrive asked MJ to find Carlie, I'm guessing that she's going to wind up a cellmate at some point when she snoops around too much.  

Meanwhile, Spencer wraps up a number of loose ends:  Peter donates the money that he made from Threats and Menaces to F.E.A.S.T., Boomerang and Randy are no longer his roommates, and Robbie and Tombstone declare a truce when it comes to their kids.  But, Spencer can't help himself and introduces two new plots:  the New Avengers are maybe hatching a plan to take down Fisk, and Betty Brant returns from Europe pregnant.  It isn't a terrible issue, but it exacerbates the feeling that we're just spinning our wheels.

Captain America #29 (May 19):  As unexpected as what I'm going to say is, I could really read Kingpin and Sharon exchanging witty repartee all day.  Sharon's decision to recruit Kingpin to take out Alexa goes around Steve's desire to bring in Alexa and Aleksander by the book.  Bucky and White Tiger are on had to take in Alexa only for Scourge - clearly working for Kingpin, given the phone call that he makes after Sharon gives him Alexa's whereabouts - to assassinate her.  A now magically re-powered Sin (recalling her Mother Superior days) teleports Alexa from the scene, but it's hard to see Alexa surviving.  It's also hard to see Sharon and Steve's relationship surviving if he learns how it happened.  Meanwhile, Cap is taking on Aleksander on his lonesome, which should be fun.

X-Men #20 (May 26):  One of my few problems with "Dawn/Reign of X" is that Magneto and Professor X have suddenly been forgiven their long list of crimes and sins.  I mean, no one is pretending that Mister Sinister is a hero.  But, Magneto and Professor X have been turned into the John Adams and George Washington of Krakoa.  

The good news it that Hickman is nothing if not a planner, and he sets the seeds of their comeuppance in this issue.  To underline that point, Professor X self-righteously says to Mystique here, "We have among us other monsters[, some] who do not lie to themselves about what they are."  Indeed, Professor X.

At Mystique's request, Forge builds her a "microscopic singularity generator," giving her the ability to detonate a black hole in the middle of Orchis' Forge.  She arrives at the Forge as Dr. Gregor brings Erasmus online in an artificial body.  Gregor explains that she was able to restore his essence through "holographic memories grown in a crystalline shell."  Of course, Erasmus immediately identifies Mystique as a mutant in hiding and attacks.  She activates the bomb, and Erasmus sends a duplicate after her.  

Erasmus informs Gregor that he plans on teleporting himself into space with the bomb, but Gregor tells him that he can't, as his memory core needs to grow and replicate throughout the body.  In other words, if he loses one of his duplicates, he loses the memories stored in that body that haven't fully replicated yet.  

But, to save Gregor, he creates a third duplicate to send into space with the bomb.  The duplicate that remains with Gregor confirms that he doesn't have Erasmus' memories.  As the duplicate sent after Mystique tells her as he throws her through the gateway, he is now Nimrod the hunter.  He remarks, "the first thing I experienced beyond the love of my creator was pain and loss at your hands."  (Well plays, Charles and Erik.  Well played.). Later, Omega confirms for Devo that they have blocked off the gate, and Devo delights that the attack reveals that the mutants fear Orchis.  

On Krakoa, Magneto and Professor X resurrect Mystique and force her to confirm Nimrod is online.  Mystique asks about Irene, and Professor X simply says, "What about her?"  What a fucking asshole.  The issue ends with Magneto and Professor X approaching Moira MacTaggert, who's reading Destiny's journals, with Destiny's conversation with Mystique about burning down the island from issue #6 appearing in text boxes over these images.  The final page then advertises Inferno, so we all know where we're going.  Am I rooting for Mystique?  Definitely.

Also Read:  Black Knight:  Curse of the Ebony Blade #3 (May 19); New Mutants #18 (May 26)

Eleven-Month-Old Comics: The Superhero May 5 and 12 (2021) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Marauders #20 (May 5):  This issue is excellent, as Duggan has the team say farewell to Storm on the eve of the Hellfire Gala.  It involves everyone telling their favorite Storm stories and guessing how many knives she carries.  As usual, Emma steals the show, when she thanks Storm for making sure that the wind was at Hellfire Trading's back during its launch.  But, the issue's end is the most interesting, as it seems that Shaw is going to propose the Council bring back mutants before Cerebro came online.  (Time travel?)  Duggan also hints at the "Hellfire Expedition" proposal, which I'm guessing will define the post-Gala status quo for this series.  Given how uneven the last few issues have been, it's nice to have Storm's send-off meet the series' original promise.

Giant-Size Amazing Spider-Man:  King's Ransom #1 (May 12):  Whoa.  I mean, it isn't all that surprising that Boomerang betrayed Spidey and was working for Kingpin this time.  In fact, his entire redemption arc only really makes sense because it wasn't true.  Still, poor Spidey.

Reading about Spidey vouching for Boomerang, I was reminded when Boomerang killed Jackpot's husband in front of her and her daughter in "Amazing Spider-Man Presents:  Jackpot" #2 (I think).  Sure, his moment at the Bar with No Name shows that he knows what he lost.  But, it's Boomerang.  He always knows what he's lost, and he does it anyway.  It took me a while to figure out that Fred's "disagreement" with the Kingpin on the "compensation package" is what led the Kingpin sending New York's underworld against him, even though he was still willing to provide Kingpin with the last fragment of the Tablet of Life and Destiny.

The big news is that Wilson decides to resurrect his son, Richard, instead of his wife.  (I was a little surprised Richard was resurrected fully dressed in his Rose outfit instead of, you know, naked.)  Wilson made that decision after Kindred refused to resurrect Vanessa and, in a scene we didn't see at the time, then asks him why he thinks that she wants to return to him.  He realizes that he could atone for Vanessa's greatest sin - murdering her son - and resurrect him.  I've been down on Spencer for a while, but, OK, this twist is actually interesting.  

Moreover, Spencer appears to be putting aside this need to have Peter blame himself for everything.  When he convenes the New Avengers to help him find Fred, he realizes (again) the extent to which he's isolated himself from his family and friends in a misguided drive to protect them.  

Guardians of the Galaxy #14 (May 12):  First, these Booth covers are awesome.  Moving onto the story, Ewing is finally telling the type of Guardians story that I was hoping we'd see in this series.  

First, on Rimworld #360-3715, Team B discovers that Sister Talionis is trying to open a "dark doorway" to allow He-Who-Waits to enter.  Kl'rt recognizes the three stars that she names and hypothesizes that Talionis is making a constellation from them to summon dark powers.  When he notes that the other star would have to be exactly in the right place for the spell to work, the team realizes that this suspiciously perfectly located "new planet" is actually Ego the Living Planet.  Ego is apparently He-Who-Waits' herald.  The team returns to the Almond (the Bowie's successor) as Talionis' minions slit their hands for a blood offering.  They then begin to die in terrible ways to make way for He-Who-Waits.

Meanwhile, on Throneworld II, Doom swaps bodies with Teddy so that he can wield the Sword of Space.  Ewing does a great job with Doom, as he has the team on the ropes for a while.  Moondragon eventually has the team goad Doom into switching bodies again (by implying that he chose Teddy given the similarity his powers have to Mister Fantastic's) and then hijacks his consciousness and places it into Rocket's.  Doom says that he's only trying to get the Sword of Space because he senses "something" coming, and Team A realizes that it's He-Who-Waits.  Peter then conscripts Doom into the Guardians to help.

Seriously, it's great stuff.  Given how difficult to follow this series' first twelve issues were, Ewing spinning a classic Guardian tale is all the more rewarding.

Spider-Man:  Spider's Shadow #2 (May 12):  First, I am here for a bearded Peter Parker.  It's like when Mayor Pete finally grew one.  

More importantly, this issue is intense.  By the end of it, Peter has killed Kingpin, Scorpion, and Shocker and broken JJJ, Jr.'s hand.  I mean, before he kills Kingpin, Spidey throws Scorpion and Shocker's dismembered limbs at him, since it was Kingpin who sent them after him.  In other words, it ain't your father's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

Something I think that Zdarsky gets absolutely right is that people are underestimating Spidey because they don't quite believe that he's a killer now.  Kingpin actually taunts him, as if Peter wasn't going to kill him right then and there.  

Zdarksy shows Peter struggling with the shame, particularly after he confesses to MJ that he killed Hobgoblin, but it's clear that the symbiote is quickly taking over full control.  While Reed Richards has Johnny Storm trying to find him, Doctor Octopus is putting together the Sinister Six so they can kill him before he kills them.  

So far, each development makes sense to me, and, as such, I'm really worried for Peter where we're going.

Also Read:  Amazing Spider-Man #65 (May 5)

Year-Old Comics: The Superhero April 21 and 28 (2021) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #64 (April 21):  Ugh.  I just don't even know what to say at this point.  Spencer introduces another Kindred-related sub-plot, as Kindred brings brought back Doctor Octopus so that he can launch this summer's "Sinister War."  Does that mean that we've still got months of Kindred left?  On the Kindred front, we may be getting  somewhere as the Kingpin brings Baron Mordo to Ravencroft to try to figure out which demon or devil possesses Harry.  Meanwhile, Crime Master #6 (#7?) and Madame Masque kidnap Janice and Randy in a complicated plan to off Tombstone (to get his Kingpin-designated territories) and Robbie (to replace him with a more "friendly" "Daily Bugle" editor).  Couldn't they just have assassinated them?  Also, Fred decides to find the last piece of the Lifeline Tablet on his own in order not to endanger Pete (after Crime Master and Madame Masque blew up their apartment for Randy).  I mean, it isn't terrible, but it isn't good either.

Black Knight:  Curse of the Ebony Blade #2 (April 21):  Spurrier crams in so much exposition here that it probably would've taken him five or six issues to let it come out naturally.  Cutting to the point, Percy explains that Merlin originally created four ebony artifacts and told him to choose one.  When he choose the Ebony Blade, Merlin threw the other artifacts into the River Styx.  But, after Jacks touches her dead professor's blood, she has a vision of Mordred stealing the staff before it dissolved and searching for the chalice.  "Dead professor's blood?", you ask?  Spurrier reveals that Mordred is last issue's black-robed figure, and he's killing Camelot scholars to create a bloodstone.  This behavior brings Elsa Bloodstone into the mix for reasons that I'm not sure extend beyond "bloodstone."  It's...a lot.  I'm hoping with all the cards on the table we can finally establish whatever this new status quo for Dane is going to be, because even I can't handle another issue of Percy storytime.

New Mutants #17 (April 28):  This issue is all over the place.  It's hard to follow all the emotional outbursts, from Anole screaming at Gabby that she doesn't understand what it's like not to look human to Dani threatening Roma if she doesn't let them steal from her.  It turns out the search for Josh in Otherworld was essentially a MacGuffin to get Dani to summon Xi'an's twin brother's spirit.  Ironically, Josh's journey in Otherworld is the most interesting story of these past few issues, particularly as he rejects living on Earth simply because the Five can only resurrect him there.  I wish that we had spent more time on Josh's story and less time trying to cycle as many characters through these issues as possible.

Also Read:  M.O.D.O.K.:  Head Games #4 (April 28)

Year-Old Comics: The Superhero April 7 and 14 (2021) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Marauders #19 (April 7):  The Marauders respect the letter, if not the spirit, of the law when they send in the Morlocks - technically not Krakoans - to save Lowtown.  Of course, they don't exactly respect the letter of the law, as Kate sneaks into Lowtown to plant the Krakoan gate that allows the Morlocks to enter and Bishop blows up Frankenstein's laboratory.  But, they don't get caught so it counts.  I have to say that I'm totally down with this series occasionally focusing on Lowtown - now Mutietown - stories featuring the Morlocks.  In sad news, the Reavers kill Lockheed's friend's (Ai Tran's) dad, but the Morlocks offer Ai a job running the Princess Bar.

Darkhawk:  Heart of the Hawk #1 (April 14):  If you've read this blog for a while, you'll know that Darkhawk is right up there with Nova and Spider-Man 2099 on my list of favorites.  He was a teenage '90s heroes roughly my age, and I always clicked with him the most.  He wasn't a nerdy genius like Peter Parker or a handsome dude like Rich Rider.  He was a normal teenager who felt overwhelmed with the responsibilities unfolding before him.  His story sang to me.  Marvel does a spectacular job of creating the perfect introduction to Chris for new readers with enough to get us committed fans excited.  

Danny Fingeroth somehow summarizes the original "Darkhawk" series in just a few pages as Chris accidentally finds himself on a date with the daughter of the mobster who corrupted his father.  It made me want to dig out my old back issues and remember all the twists and turns that those issues had when it came to Chris' father.  I had definitely forgotten that he was Savage Steel.

Then, Dan Abnett gives the same treatment to Chris' cosmic years, portraying him as a lonely figure trying to help where he can in the aftermath of the War of Kings.  Darkhawk's cosmic adventures often put Chris's story on the back burner as Darkhawk's armor's increasingly complicated and contradictory back story became most stories' focus.  This story puts Chris firmly in the story's center, thankfully, as he grieves the loss of heroes like Nova and Star-Lord and tries to do his best to bring justice to a broken galaxy.

Higgins seemingly shows us Chris' death.  At a breach point, Chris has spent the last three weeks trying to prevent "what's on the other side from coming through."  But, he can't prevent the "Shadow War" that he sees coming from happening anymore, as the ship has expended all its energy.  Before the ship explodes, he sends the amulet through Null Space with all his memories - his datasong - in the hope that someone  will find it and learn from his mistakes.  Ramírez's Chris is my preferred one here, once again a handsome yet normal guy who just happens to be a superhero.

All in all, I'm excited that Marvel seems ready to bring back Chris.  He seems a perfect fit for joining the new Guardians, and I hope we go in that direction.

Guardians of the Galaxy #13 (April 14):  This issue is great.  It's exactly what a "Guardians of the Galaxy" issue should be and yet somehow is still rare.  In a template that works well for future issues and stories, Ewing splits up the Guardians into two squads to address separate threats.

Nova leads the first squad to Throneworld 2, where an extra-galactic civilization called the Progenitors are attacking.  As a civilization willing to experiment on "lesser species," they're exposing the Kree to a mutagenic mist to study the results.  Nova, Gamora, Groot, Moondragon, (a shirtless) Peter Quill, and Rocket arrive to help Hulkling and Wiccan take out the Progenitors.  

Meanwhile, Phylla-Vell leads Drax, Marvel Boy, and Quasar to a newly discovered rimworld where a survey team vanished.  It turns out a Skrull cult - the Brethren of the Forgotten Flame -  waiting for the return of "He-Who-Waits" has taken over the planet (and killed the survey team).  Let's just say that they're not thrilled that a pacifist Earther child is running the Empire.

Ewing also includes some surprises here.  First, Wendell Vaughn is now sharing the quantum bands with Avril Kincaid, like Captain Marvel used to do with Rick Jones.  Second, when Gamora complains about how distant Peter is, he confesses that he had a son in Morinus.  Finally, the Throneworld team sends away the Progenitors only to get its ass kicked by...Doctor Doom!

Also Read:  Amazing Spider-Man #63 (April 7); Spider-Man:  Spider's Shadow #1 (April 14)

Over Year-Old Comics: The Superhero March 10, 17, 24, and 31 (2021) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #61 (March 10):  We have good news and bad news here.

On the plus side, Spencer functionally abandons the Kindred story.  Do we know how Harry Osborn went from mild-mannered dad to villain-resurrecting devil?  No.  But, if Spencer is willing to ignore it, I'm willing to ignore it.  I assume that we're going to return to the story at some point (and it probably isn't a good sign that I'm dreading that.)  But, any day that I don't have to hear about Kindred is a good day.  

Instead, Spencer essentially engages in a soft relaunch, as Peter and Spider-Man take jobs with Threats and Menaces.  I'm not quite sure what Peter's job is, but Spider-Man accepts a new suit that JJJ, Jr. designed to let him serve as Spidey's Man in the Chair.  In fact, Spidey essentially becomes Screwball, using fan-sourced banter and allowing everyone to see his exploits through the suit's virtual-reality technology.  Is it a bad idea?  Probably.  But, Spencer makes it clear that Peter desperately needs the money, so he's willing to accept the suit-hijacking threat that clearly is coming later (probably when Norah needs more views).

On the down side, I feel like Spencer is really playing loose with Peter's secret identity.  After all, he and Fred start an Instragram page for Gog.  Kingpin sends Bullseye after Gog as Boomerang (in costume) sits with him at the park to pick up girls.  Meanwhile, Hydro-Man, Shocker, and Speed-Demon distract Spidey so that Bullseye can set up the shot.  Spidey is clearly going to save Gog, yet again tying him to Boomerang.  Given that Peter's connection to Spider-Man is pretty clear and Peter lives with Boomerang, it's like when Tony Stark wink-winked everyone that he wasn't Iron Man.  Given the likelihood of the aforementioned suit-hijacking threat happening, someone could also learn Peter's identity through said hijacking.

All that said, this story feels like a Spider-Man story, the first one in many, many issues.  If I have to deal with my willful suspension of disbelief getting pushed to its absolute limit when it comes to Peter's secret identity, I'll take it.

Black Knight:  Curse of the Ebony Blade #1 (March 17):  Given how terrible "King in Black:  Black Knight" #1 was, I was worried this series would be equally awful.  I'm glad to say, as a long-time fan of Dane Whitman, Spurrier does a much better job here explaining the broken Dane whom we saw in "King in Black:  Black Knight"#1.  

Dane has accepted that his darkness and rage are necessary to fuel the Ebony Blade and, thus, allow him to be a hero.  When the Avengers call him to help fight clay-like creatures invading Central Park, he's desperate to spend time with them.  As such, he's devastated when they make it clear that they only called him so he can use his magic to destroy the creatures.  Spurrier is at his best when he has Dane recalls all his darkest memories - from his mother's death to his father's abuse - to summon the necessary energy to do so.  

In the wake of him using his powers, a black-robed figure appears.  He disables the Avengers by whispering their deepest regrets to them, and only Dane proves immune (given how much time he frequently spends with said regrets).  After the figure uses a knife that Dane recognizes to decapitate him, the figure is furious that Dane's dead body won't release the Ebony Blade.  Dane is later resurrected when the young woman whom he's asked to teach him more about Arthurian legends actually cuts herself on the Ebony Blade.

My only complaint at this point is that I don't get why Spurrier decided that "dark" equals "pathetic."  As I mentioned in my review of "King in Black:  Black Knight" #1, Dane is a spineless, stuttering fool here.  He even continues to use olde-timey language that I don't recall him ever using.  I'd much prefer us getting the dark, edgy Dane whom I recognize and who makes the Avengers uncomfortable.

But, all in all, I'm happy where we're going, particularly if it brings back the Dane Whitman whom I know and love.

Amazing Spider-Man #62 (March 24):  I totally forgot about Robbie Robertson and Tombstone's, um, past, so I missed how it essentially turns Randy and the Beetle into Romeo and Juliet.  Tombstone discovers their rekindled relationship as he plans on holding Randy hostage to attract Boomerang and then kill him.  Oops.  Meanwhile, Boomerang is bereft as he and Spider-Man give Gog to MJ for safekeeping and swears revenge on the Kingpin.  As Bleeding Cool said about this issue, everyone around Peter (and Spider-Man) is living a more interesting life than Peter is.

Guardians of the Galaxy #12 (March 24):  I'll admit that I still don't entirely understand what Ewing was doing with the Olympians or really how it ended.  (Are Marvel Boy, Moondragon, and Star-Lord really "opposites" as the name "Union of Opposites" implies?)  But, I'm thrilled where we end, with the Galactic Council acknowledging that the post-Knull freefall that the galactic economy faces means that they can't restart the Nova Corps:  they need the Guardians to serve its rapid-reaction force.  Based on the last page, K'lrt and Quasar are joining the team, and I couldn't be happier.

Captain America #28 (March 31):  After the lull in this series that was the Madripoor mission, Coates is flooring it as he rushes to the end.  The Skull's plan to murder an idea, as Sharon says, is going pretty well.  

Toni brings in Agatha Harkness to examine the bomb that the Skull exploded in New York.  She reveals that it's a twist on a device that she created to rally people to fight; this device rallies them to hate.  It doesn't matter that the bomb slowly kills the people who came to the Skull's rally; more people gather in various cities.  They're drawn to the Skull's speech about men claiming the "sword of manhood" to prevent their nightmare from happening.  Coates and the Skull leave what the "nightmare" is intentionally vague, a way for these men to define it however they want. 

But, Coates makes it clear what he thinks of these men.  Cap meets a detective, Dane Brennan, in the burn ward at Lenox Hill Hospital.  He isn't just there to see how his men are doing; he's there because his brother, Jamie, was one of the men at the rally injured in the bombing.  Dane describes Jamie as the only non-NYPD brother of five brothers, a disappointment to everyone.  Cap correctly surmises the rest:  Jamie disappears into the internet and returns obsessed with the Skull's new theory of the world.  Dane is surprised that Cap knows that, but Cap tells him that it's how it always is, that weak young men eventually find a purpose.  He found the flag, and Dane found the badge:  his brother found the Skull.

In the end, Alexa and Sin trap Cap at the rally in Chicago, using a poisoned knife to ensure that Sin's Skeleton Crew can beat him to a pulp.  When Sharon comes to save him, it's the perfect propaganda for the Skull.  I don't know what Coates has left at this point, but I know that it's getting harder and harder to see our gang winning.  I can't remember a comic that I've read recently where I wasn't sure that the heroes would eventually win.  In other words, it's exciting.

X-Men #19 (March 31):  The short of this issue is that Darwin, Synch, and Wolverine's incursion into the Vault is successful.  

The City learned of Krakoa (presumably through Serafina's time outside the Vault) and realized that it had to create an unplanned generation of Children to defeat a reinvigorated mutantkind.  However, it didn't have the power to do so.  As a result, it kidnapped Darwin and used his evolutionary powers (by "atomizing" him) to begin generating the fourth generation of Children.  Upon realizing what the City is doing, Everett and Laura go through the Vault's shield, which strips them of their powers, to escape.  Laura sacrifices herself for Everett, who manages to get outside the Vault - and thus project his mind to Professor X - before the Children kill him.  When he's resurrected, Krakoa now has all his knowledge of the Vault.

My only complaint about this issue is that it's heavy on Hickmanesque hints and misdirections.  Do we know exactly how Orchis captured the second generation of Children?  What does "time debt inversion" mean?  I had to read the issue twice just to be able to piece together what I did here.  

I'm not saying the issue isn't good.  Hickman does a good job injecting it with emotion given the lifetimes-long relationship that Everett and Laura enjoy.  Synch awakens remembering their time together, and she doesn't:  it's a lot.  But, it's still asking a lot of the reader to go on this journey.  In other words, read this one sober.

Also Read:  King in Black:  Wiccan and Hulkling #1 (March 3)

Over Year-Old Comics: The Superhero February 3, 10, 17, and 24 (2021) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

King in Black:  Black Knight #1 (February 3):  Honestly, this issue is almost incomprehensible.  I've read a lot of Dane Whitman stories, and the Dane Whitman whom we see here is almost unrecognizable.  Instead of a hero nobly trying to fight the Ebony Blade's dark and murderous impulses to help people, Dane is a spineless, stuttering fool begging the Blade to stop making him kill people.  Moreover, Spurrier uses Knull of all "people" to ret-con the Black Knight legend.  Apparently, Merlin chose Dane's ancestor Percy to wield the blade because he was the most craven, not heroic, knight.  Of course, Spurrier doesn't explain why the alien God of the Symbiotes is apparently the only entity able to understand Merlin's motivations in awarding the Blade to Percy; we're just supposed to accept that.  Plus, the "humor" throughout this issue is just bizarre.  Most of the issue's dialogue is dedicated to Aero and Sword Master's argument over whether Dane is crazy or not.  No, really.  Just like Knull, Aero and Sword Master are awkwardly inserted here for no real reason.  I could continue, but I've already wasted too much time thinking about this issue.

Amazing Spider-Man #59 (February 10):  It's clear that Spencer is drawing inspiration from Stern's run on "Amazing Spider-Man," where Hobgoblin's identity was a mystery for 50+ issues.  Throughout that period, Peter faced trials and tribulations other than Hobgoblin.  With the Kindred story fading to the background, Martin Li accepts his Mr. Negative persona to save Aunt May.  Later, Mr. Negative informs Kingpin that Lemuria also created a Tablet of Death and Entropy, which allows resurrection one time when combined with the Tablet of Life and Destiny.  Kingpin recruits Mister Negative to join other criminals whom he's hired to wrest the Tablet of Life and Destiny from Boomerang.  I'm on board with this sort of story, but Spencer has to do a better job of really letting go of the Kindred story.  If he isn't going to solve it anytime soon, he needs to put it on the back burner more fully.

Captain America #27 (February 17):  This issue is one of the best Red Skull stories ever told.  The Skull realizes that he doesn't have to stoke hate; he just has to direct it.  When the Fact Channel organizes a rally in Central Park to jeer Captain America's call to remember our better angels, the Skull has his New Watchdogs plant a bomb.  Speaking over images of Captain America trying to keep the various right-wing groups from killing each other before the bomb exploded, the Skull calls on these right-wing groups to stand against the man who tried to deny them their freedom of speech.  Coates wrote this issue a year before Putin's invasion of Ukraine, so his depiction of the far-right groups rallying to the Skull's cause rings particularly prophetic.

Guardians of the Galaxy #11 (February 17):  Ewing continues to bring all the pieces together, particularly when it comes to Nova and Star-Lord.  When the team decides to face the Olympians on Daedelus-5, a world that Annihilius destroyed during the Annihilation Wave, Rich walks through his feelings during a remote session with his therapist.  Although he's still unwilling to see himself as a hero, his therapist is maybe getting him to see that he isn't alone now, just like he wasn't alone then.  Later, though, he gets a moment that'll hopefully heal even more wounds.  When Rich apologizes for bringing Peter into the fight with the Olympians, Peter tells him that he should thank him for that, as it gave him his life on Morinus.  He also reminds him that, even if Nova didn't tell him about the Olympians, Star-Lord would've found out somehow and done the same thing.  He tells Rich that he may not be the man who he was, but that he's still him.  They hug, and I hope that hug means Rich may sleep through the night one night soon.  Of course, he has to survive the Olympians first.

Marauders #18 (February 17):  I'll admit that I'm not quite sure why the Marauders have decided to poke Verendi in the eye in Madripoor.  I mean, I get why they'd want to keep tabs on them and make sure that any mutants in Madripoor are safe.  But, actively buying property  in Lowtown to prevent Verendi from building its skyline seems unnecessarily aggressive.  As Kade says to Frankenstein, they're just screwing with Verendi to screw with them.  It not only distracts the Marauders from their goals, but it gives Frankenstein the excuse to roll out his new Reavers, humans who the various X-teams maimed in previous fights.  (I did like Bobby refusing to feel badly about the Reavers whom he maimed after the Red Queen's "death."  As he says, they were trying to kill him with the limbs that he took.)  The issue ends with the United Nations banning the Marauder from Madripoor given a brawl that Bishop, Iceman, and Pyro had with the Reavers there.  I still don't get why it's the United Nations' job to do so.  Can't Verendi, as Madripoor's government, do so?  Also, can't they just use public-domain law to seize the land that the Marauders bought?  At any rate, I've never liked the Kiddie Hellfire Club, and I still don't get why we're dwelling on them here.

Amazing Spider-Man #60 (February 24):  In my review of last issue, I said that I hoped that Spencer would let the Kindred story fade into the background.  Instead, we belabor it yet again.  This time, though, we have Peter delivering a truly ridiculous monologue about his angst over Kindred.  When I say "monologue," I mean "monologue:"  MJ has him deliver it in an abandoned theater.  Also, Mysterio seems to know Peter's secret identity, since he approaches MJ after Peter leaves?  I haven't really focused on this development because I basically keep hoping that it disappears.  [Sigh.]

X-Men #18 (February 24):  Darwin, Synch, and Wolverine's journey into the Vault is one of the better stories that Hickman has spun on this series.  First, the threat to Krakoa is clear:  the Children of the Vault seek to dominate Earth, and they (correctly) see mutantkind as hindering that goal.  Second, it isn't the usual characters:  I like all three of these characters individually (it's great to see Synch in action again after all these years), and Hickman has created a virtually indestructible trio in the way their powers interact.  Finally, it isn't clear which side will win:  the trio might be virtually indestructible, but the Children of the Vault are, too.  Whereas the plots of "Marauders" and "New Mutants" have meandered for quite a while (even before "X of Swords"), it was nice to read a story that has a point.

Also Read:  King in Black:  Marauders #1 (February 3); New Mutants #16 (February 24)

Over Year-Old Comics: The Superhero January 6, 13, 20, and 27 (2021) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #56 (January 6):  At some point during Slott's "Superior Spider-Man" run, I decided that I just had to grit my teeth and go with it.  I wasn't going to get the resolution in the time frame that I wanted, so I just had to let the story unfurl at its own pace, unpleasant as it was.  I feel the same way with the Kindred saga.

First, I accept that Sin-Eater cleansed Norman of his sins and that Norman then cooked up the deal with the Kingpin so that he could get Harry to Ravenloft where Norman had the tools to help him.  As plans go, it's pretty solid.  

Moreover, Spencer makes it clear that MJ was aware of the plan:  Norman used a flash grenade to make Kindred think that MJ was hurt.  When an enraged Kindred came after Norman, MJ told Peter that she was fine and that Norman wanted them to use the distraction to evacuate the Order of the Web.  This part also makes sense.  I mean, yes, I'm frustrated that we keep vacillating between "bad" Norman and "good" Norman.  It's hard enough to believe that Norman isn't setting up elaborate double- and triple-crosses at all time, so it's just as likely that Norman is only pretending to be good Norman for Harry and that he's really bad Norman with Kingpin.  As I've previously said, these sorts of Osborn stories are such beaten paths that it's hard to care.  But, at least good Norman's plan as presented to us makes sense.

I'm also fine with the idea that, once Kindred released all the sins from Sin-Eater, they returned to the original sinners except for Norman. 

I even like the idea that a revived Overdrive realized that he needed to surround himself with better people, so he asks out Carlie Cooper given her devotion to him in the hospital.

Unfortunately, I draw the line at the core premise of this story:  a captured Kindred informs Norman that he did what he did to him and Peter because he wants them to remember "the truth [they've] been running from."  Apparently, if Peter acknowledges that he was the cause of all his family and friends' suffering and if Norman is cleansed of all his sins, they'd have free enough minds to remember the dark, terrible secret that they apparently can't remember.  We've had hints that Harry may mean Peter's deal with Mephisto, which Peter doesn't remember (but MJ may).  But, I don't get what it has to do with Harry and/or Norman?  And, again, I don't care.  But, I guess that I have to go down this road anyway.

Guardians of the Galaxy #10 (January 6):  I feel like Ewing seriously rights the ship in this issue.  As uninteresting as Knull is to me as yet another all-powerful evil that the heroes have to defeat, he serves as a good foil for Peter to reveal his new amped up powers.  Though, at this point, it's unclear to what extent his new powers are part of his (still unexplained) role as Master of the Sun or a Star-Lord or part of him still possessing half the Olympians' powers.  But, I trust Ewing to get there, particularly as we now have, more or less, a coherent team.  I'm particularly thrilled that it includes Nova, and I'm hopeful, based on the blurb about next issue, that Drax, Gamora, and Groot will rejoin the club soon.  In other words, it feels likes we're back to the actual story that Ewing is telling and not just the distractions and diversions that we've encountered over the last few issues.

Amazing Spider-Man #57 (January 13):  This issue feels like a placeholder, as the only real development is Peter telling Norman that he's done with his feud with the Osborns.  Norman begs him to speak to Harry, and Peter refuses.  I have to say that I'm proud of him for it.  I totally agree with him that the feud just serves to fuel the Osborn's sense of victimhood and Peter needs to exit the scene.  Of course, Spencer can't make it that simple, so Kindred reveals that he intentionally let Norman trap him.  That seems a bit of a reach, the idea that he knew that the Kingpin could use Spot to trap him in the Darkforce dimension, which happened last issue.  But, as this story goes, it's a mild complaint.  The only other development worth noting is that, like Ben Reilly did, Peter is suffering from PTSD as a result of Kindred repeatedly killing and resurrecting him.  He almost beats Norman to death here, and it's clear that Kindred wanted him exactly in this headspace.  I guess we'll see why at some point.

Marauders #17 (January 13):  Duggan acknowledges in the intro page what I've been saying the last few issues, that the Marauders are lost in the past and seem to lack direction for the future.  We move a step in the right direction in this issue as Emma publicly announces the changes that she privately informed Shaw were happening last issue, namely that the White will handle the black market whereas the Black will handle the (I'm sure much less profitable) "yes" countries.  The Red's role is left unclear, which seems like a missed opportunity.  But, I assume that Duggan has something up his sleeve.  After all, in this issue, the Hellfire Club finally starts circulating invitations to the Hellfire Gala, and Storm decides to leave Krakoa (though serves as Callisto's Crucible sponsor before she goes).  Change is in the air; I just hope that it doesn't take too long to arrive, given how scarred I am from Spencer's Kindred story.

Amazing Spider-Man #58 (January 27):  Speaking of Spencer's Kindred story, I don't even know what I have to say about this issue.  Instead of resolving the Kindred issue, Peter gets drawn into Martin Li's attempt to fight off his Mr. Negative persona.  His Demon Knights have apparently contacted the Kingpin on his behalf, offering to help him resurrect Vanessa (as Kindred refused to do).  I mean, Mr. Negative was one of the best characters to emerge from "Brand New Day," so I'm not complaining that he's back.  But, OMFG, how long can Spencer draw out the Kindred story?  Is he trying to win a bet?

New Mutants #15 (January 27):  I can't quite put my finger on it, but something about Ayala and Reis' issues aren't working for me.  

It may just be that we have too many characters moving through each issue.  After some Googling, I learned that (the always delicious) Daken appears to be dating Aurora in "X-Factor."  Ayala makes that clear here, when Gabby (i.e., Scout) is upset that Daken doesn't have time for her.  But, it feels like a non sequitur, or, put another way, this series seems to have enough happening with some of its more established characters that we don't need to add drama.  For example, we've got Dani's efforts to help Xi'an deal with the aftermath of Cosma's possession (as seen last issue), Dani pledging to help Rahne find a way to resurrect Tier, and Anole, Cosmar, No-Girl, and Rain Boy under the Shadow King's influence: it's a lot.  

It overwhelms something that I should've enjoyed more thoroughly, namely the original New Mutants all getting together for Doug's wedding celebration.  I mean, a drunk Bobby basically ignoring that a devirginized Doug just returned from his honeymoon because he wanted to be there to celebrate the devirginizing?  That's excellent New Mutant-ness right there.  But, it's lost amidst Cosmar's disappointment that the Crucible can't return her original body to her and Scout's anger at Daken wanting to sex up Aurora instead of play with her.

At this point, I'm willing to entertain the chaos so that Ayala can show us all the various mutants interacting under the New Mutants umbrella.  But, I think it would help if we soon had a more core group of characters to follow.

X-Men #17 (January 27):  Other than the joy of seeing Cannonball and Sunspot, this issue is mostly notable for the fact that Cyclops and Marvel Girl are in their X-Factor costumes and holding hands.  I believe that it's the first confirmation that they're together?  Hickman has been coy about that since he took over the title.  Although I'm glad to see it, I'd also really like to get an issue dedicated to how that happened.  In fact, I wouldn't mind Hickman eventually showing us how Krakoa came about existing.  The jump in time was necessary to jolt us into this new era, but now that we're well in it I don't think that it would hurt to show how the key characters came to be where they were when "House of X"/"Powers of X" started.  Oh, yes, also, Jean, Ororo, and Scott help Smasher stop an assassination attempt on Xandra as Bobby and Sam babysit.  If Hickman ever stops writing X-Men, I'd love for him to stay and do a Bobby/Sam series.

Over Year-Old Comics: The Superhero December 9, 16, 23, and 30 (2020) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #54 (December 9):  Oh, God, make it stop, please, make it stop.  Nick Spencer has entered Tom King territory, and I just can't.  As Peter himself acknowledges, we once again witness a melodramatic fight between an exhausted Peter and a crazy Harry...except this time he's a demon?  I don't know.  Spencer wants me to care, but I don't.  As Peter says, it's exhausting to have Harry always be the guilty party when something bad and crazy happens.  Under pet peeve #3 rules, Spencer doesn't get credit for having a character acknowledge the ridiculousness of his own plot.  [Sigh.]

Guardians of the Galaxy #9 (December 9):  Ewing is clearly re-ret-coning Peter's origin to match his original origin.

That said, I only have a vague idea of what his original origin is.  It clearly involves the Master of the Sun?  It seems like the Star-Lords are a group like the Nova Corps, since the Master of the Sun tells Peter that he'll make him "a" Star-Lord.  But, Peter is convinced this origin is a false memory, though it's unclear why he's having the memory now and why he doesn't believe it.  

At any rate, we learn that Peter used the Element Gun to absorb the Olympians.  He then spends 144 years in a place called Mornius where he enters into a bisexual thruple and seemingly has a child named Rocky.  But, he uses his Element Gun enough over that 144 years that he's released enough of the Olympians' powers for them to reconstitute themselves.  Peter is forced to return to our galaxy just in time for Knull's invasion.

Although the story is easy enough to follow, the meta-story is much more is difficult to follow.  The issue is structured as Peter passes through Morinus' 12 houses, though Ewing never really tells us what they are or why they're important.  Although he does an impressive job investing us in Arcadia and Mors (Peter's spouses) in such a short time, it's a double-edged sword because it's hard not to want more.  

I feel like we could've gotten some really great Morinus stories, but Ewing had to cut it short for the "King in Black" crossover.  It's disappointing given how great it could've been.

Marauders #16 (December 9):  I mean, I guess this issue is OK?  I dunno.  I don't have any reason not to like it, because, I mean, how could I possibly dislike Emma, Kate, and Lockheed kicking Sebastian Shaw's ass?  But, something about it bordered on eye-roll inducing, though I can't quite put my finger on it.

Captain America #26 (December 16):  Just like "Marauders," I haven't been feeling these last few issues.  Bucky, Cap, Sam, and Sharon's mission to save Misty, Natasha, Peggy, and Ross feels like the sort of thing that we'd cover in a few pages in an epilogue to a long-running story.  Maybe it's because the stakes don't feel real at all:  it isn't like we believe that they're going to fail to rescue them.  Even when it seemed like Peggy was going to die at the end of last issue, I found myself struggling to summon any sense of sadness.  As Sharon said in that issue and Steve in this one, pretty much every major character in this issue - Bucky, Lukin, Natasha, Peggy, Ross, Sharon, Sin, Steve - has been dead at some point or another.  With stakes that low, as I said, it's hard to care a lot about the outcome here.

New Mutants #14 (December 16):  Hickman has Ayala address one of the issues lurking in the background of many of the "Dawn/Reign of X" series, namely the younger mutants appear to be drunks.  The older New Mutants write the Quiet Council asking for help, and the Council promptly puts them in charge of running the education program.  Using the Captains' "synergy" approach, the older New Mutants begin training the rest of the new mutants in the Wild Hunt.  It's all well and good except for the fact that several trainee New Mutants are under the Shadow King's influence.  I'll admit that I'm surprised that we're lumping Anole in with several characters created for this story.  I mean, he's been a character for almost 20 years.  You'd think that he'd at least be part of the Young X-Men group and not demoted to this one.

Amazing Spider-Man #55 (December 30):  OMFG, how is this story not over yet?  I thought with "Last Remains" ending we'd be done, but, no, we're just beginning?  

I mean, I know Spencer is all about returning to Peter's past, as this issue's multiple references to Harry and Peter's previous confrontations makes clear.  But, I didn't really need to return to the era where Mary Jane is always at the point of getting fridged.  Possibly even worse, we're also returned to the era where Norman somehow never suffers any consequences.  After all, he apparently cured himself of his insanity (including thinking that he was Carnage), and was immune to Sin-Eater's bullets.  Is Norman the Devil?  Maybe?  Who knows?  Who cares?  

I also cannot - cannot - take another minute of Harry pinning blame for Norman on Peter.  Even Norman tried to do so in issue #49.  I get that it seemed dodgy that Peter didn't tell Harry that Norman was the Green Goblin once he realized that Norman suffered from amnesia.  But, Harry was basically having nervous breakdowns over poorly toasted bagels at that point in time.  Yes, Peter benefitted from not having to expose his secret identity, but it didn't mean that his benefit was the only variable in the equation.  Plus, as Norman's behavior in this issue shows, Norman is beyond saving.  But, the fucking Osborns keep trying to pin everything on Peter, and he buys it.

I'm so fucking bored of this schtick.  I really could never read an Osborn story for as long as I live and I wouldn't care.

X-Men #16 (December 30):  Hickman makes it clear that he's not done with Arakko when it turns out Arakko doesn't want to unify with Krakoa now that it's arrived on Earth.  

Isca the Unbeaten is appalled at the X-Men's weakness, something that Hickman plays up well when Isca essentially emasculated Professor X for arriving with a Krakoan flower for her.  (To be fair, he was simply trying to help them set up a portal so they didn't have to cross the strait between the two islands, but it's clear that Isca didn't even see that reason as a good one.)  Meanwhile, Cyclops and Marvel Girl decline positions on the Quiet Council as they plan to restart the X-Men.  They plan to hold annual elections for the roster, and I'm sure that it won't get political at all. 

I have to admit that I feel like Hickman is losing some steam here.  The X of Swords event seemed to happen at a weird time, in retrospect.  We haven't even established the status quos of all the X-Men and associated characters, but now we're adding 20 times the number of mutants on Krakoa with the addition of Arakko.  Moreover, it's getting hard to tell what the modi operandi of all the Krakoan teams are, and now we're adding the X-Men into the mix.  

As amazing as Hickman's work with "Dawn/Reign of X" has been, I feel like it might be time to break up the central narrative control and let creators tell stories where the only notable part about Krakoa is that it's where the mutants happen to live.  Duggan gets as close as we've seen to that on "Marauders," and that series' best issues are when we barely mention Krakoa at all.

Also Read:  MODOK:  Head Games #1 (December 2); Amazing Spider-Man #54.LR (December 23)

Over Year-Old Comics: The Superhero November 25 (2020) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #53.LR (November 25):  These "Last Remains" issues are a hodgepodge of stories of varying levels of believability and quality.  I understand Norman trying to convince MJ to talk to Harry since she's the only person who might be able to connect with him.  It seems clear that MJ will figure in prominently in "Last Remains'" conclusion.  But, Sin-Eater's pursuit of the Order of the Web feels like Spencer is just trying to fill pages.  After all, we know that the Order of the Web no longer possesses their demonic powers.  As such, it's hard to summon much energy for Sin-Eater trying to hunt down the Spider-Friends to steal back powers that they no longer have.  Don't get me wrong:  I love a good "Spider-Verse"-y story.  But, I'm barely engaging with the main story let alone a tertiary one that's already been resolved.

Falcon & the Winter Soldier #5 (November 25):  You know, this series would be great even if it didn't end with a remarkably handsome Bucky petting his ridiculously adorable cat while attending Sam's therapy group.

Given the superheroes' treatment of Hawkeye's descent into outright villainy (though, in his mind, for the right reasons) in "Hawkeye:  Freefall," it initially rubbed me the wrong way that everyone seemed willing to overlook Bucky's return to lethal methods, particularly the revelation that he was taking out entire terrorist camps at OFU's orders.  

But, Landry contrasts the Natural's amoral violent rages with Steve's deeply held beliefs - to remind Bucky that it isn't just about winning a fight.  As Sam tells him, Bucky can't just return to his Winter Solider days without a cost.  In the end, he (and Alpine) join Sam's group, and I'm glad to see that he's no longer cooling his jets in Indiana anymore.  

Before I go, I have to add in that Vicentini has been setting "Amazing Spider-Man" on fire lately, and he's just as good throughout this series.  Kudos to everyone!

Excalibur #14 (November 11):  I'm putting this issue after X-Men #15 because I initially didn't plan on reading it but did after I learned that it was Doug's issue.  But, this issue makes no sense. I mean, it makes literally no sense.  Instead of fighting, Doug and Bei the Blood Moon wind up getting married.  Saturnyne thought the marriage would result in a loss for both of them, presumably since Doug can't understand Bei and Bei doesn't want love?  I don't know.  Also, Betsy dies.  But, does she?  Do I care?

Excalibur #15 (November 25):  I have no fucking idea what happens in this issue.  Honestly, I have no idea.  As far as I can tell, Saturnyne is surprised when mysterious forces attack the Citadel and departs the battlefield to call the Captain Britain Corps.  But, I'm not even sure that's true.  It has to do with some mosaic she constructs but doesn't go according to plan?  Meanwhile, the X-Men are forced to fight said hordes while the Arakkii heroes plan to invade Earth?  I think?  Who the fuck knows?

X-Men #15 (November 25):  I'm mildly disappointed that I didn't get to see the other battles, but I'm not buying five other issues simply to play "Street Fighter."  Although this issue is theoretically about Apocalypse and Genesis' fight, it's really about the X-Men's rebirth.  

At some point, Cable managed to connect with Jean from Otherworld and inform her that Krakoa's heroes were losing badly.  Although we know that Gorgon's sacrifice later evened the odds - leaving Apocalypse and Genesis to fight for the win - Jean and Scott don't know that.  They approach the Quiet Council to ask for permission to assemble a strike force to retrieve Krakoa's heroes and close the External Gate behind them.  (The Quiet Council doesn't dwell on it, but Scott's plan involves using Hordeculture's technology - which Beast apparently swiped at some point - to shut down the gate, which I'm assuming would infuriate Krakoa.)  Nightcrawler and Shadowcat offer to accompany them.

It all seems settled until Sebastian Shaw plays his hand.  Not unreasonably, he notes that the Quiet Council can't lose three members (Marvel Girl, Nightcrawler, and Shadowcat) in one fell swoop.  As such, he demands that they give up their seats so that the Quiet Council can continue.  The Council agrees, and Jean convinces Nightcrawler to stay while Scott points out that Kate can't go through gates.  Emma contacts Scott telepathically to chide him for lying to Kate, to protect her.  She asks if she wants him to come, and he declines, though it's a lovely moment between them.

But, the Quiet Council isn't done.  Exodus and Mystique point out that they can't just leave open the External Gate if everything goes pear-shaped in Otherworld.  Magneto and Professor X agree with the others that they'll close the gate behind them.  Scott acknowledges that Xavier has to think of the nation, but he tells him that he wasn't raised to look past right and wrong to "necessary evil."  (Again, it's another nice moment as Professor X smiles and notes that he wasn't.)  He also tells the Quiet Council that it might be Krakoa's government, but the X-Men are its heroes who'll save "those who need saving whatever the cost."  Jean and Scott depart, and a smiling Charles watches them leave as Magneto says, "Good boy."  Seriously, this issue is all good moments.

In terms of the fight, Apocalypse defeats Genesis but refuses to kill her, allowing her to put on the Golden Mask of Amenth and become Annihilation.  I'm sure that'll go well.

X of Swords:  Destruction #1 (November 25):  Interestingly, the only question I really had about this event - namely, the identity of the person who originally wielded the Twilight Sword and sundered Okkara - never gets answered.  In fact, the disposition of the Twilight Sword at the end of the event remains unclear.  

Putting that question aside, Hickman wraps up "X of Swords" in a way that minimizes its impact on mutantkind.  Apocalypse takes the Golden Helm of Amenth and surrenders to Saturnyne, allowing her dominion over Annihilation (to its horror).  She reduces its power and forms him into a staff that she gives to Genesis.  In exchange for Apocalypse staying on Amenth with his family, he sends Arrako - with its "mutant prisoners that number in the millions" to Earth.  

Other than amping up Earth's mutant population, the long-term impact of this event appears mostly to focus on "Excalibur" given the re-birth of the Captain Britain Corps.  In the end, I'm pretty happy that I didn't invest too much money and time into this event, though I'm also not disappointed in it either.  It just mostly was, which, compared to "Last Remains," isn't the worst thing that I can say about it.

Over Year-Old Comics: The Superhero November 4, 11, and 18 (2020) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #51.LR (November 4):  Jesus Christ, Morlun is back?  It's really old-home week for Spidey in the worst possible way.

Guardians of the Galaxy #8 (November 4):  The only thing that I don't get here is why the Profiteer was selling guns to the Kree that she rigged to kill anyone turning said gun on a Kree.  Wouldn't the Kree delight in said guns?  Why would she need to rig them that way against their knowledge?

X-Men #14 (November 4):  This issue repeats much of "X of Swords - Creation" #1, though this time it gives us Genesis' perspective on Arakkii history.  

Hickman confirms here that Genesis defeated Annihilation in their confrontation in "X of Swords - Creation" #1.  In so doing, she won the Golden Helm of Amenth.  Since only it can control Amenth's demon horde, her initial refusal to wear it (and thus become Annihilation) meant that she was responsible for Arakko's fall at the rampaging horde's hands.  At some point, we also learn that the tenth of Arakkii mutants who went mad and fled Arakko shortly after arriving in Amenth were bred with demons to create the Summoners.  I'm not sure how it's relevant to the ongoing story, but I guess we'll see.

Genesis eventually accepts her role as Annihilation when she learns that, while she was fighting Annihilation, the remaining Arakkii mutants sent Summoner and part of Arakko to Earth.  Seeing their decision to do so as surrender, she put on the Helm.  

Hickman is really leaning into Arakko here.  I don't mind, really, since I enjoy world-building as much as the next guy.  But, if I were paying full price for these issues, I think that I'd at least be vaguely annoyed at how much territory we keep covering over and over again.  Unless you're really into "X of Swords," you can easily skip this issue, particularly since I'd bet we'll see this story repeated somewhere else.

Amazing Spider-Man #52 (November 11):  [Sigh.]  I guess this issue is OK.  I still feel like we're going to find out Kindred is Ben Reilly and not Harry Osborn, mostly because I'm writing these issues a year after they happened and I know that Ben is back.  Maybe Peter saves Ben somehow by letting Kindred kill him?  [Shrug.]  Spencer has drawn out this confrontation for so long that it's hard to believe that we'll ever really know who Kindred is.  I feel like Spencer is going to reveal that Kindred is [Person X] at the end of "Last Remains" with [Person Y] cackling in the background about how s/he successfully tricked Peter.  It isn't a good feeling.  Spencer at least does a better job selling Peter's wallowing in responsibility here, given that Kindred forces him to confront the corpses of people's whose deaths weigh on him and Gwen throws Miles off the Brooklyn Bridge.  It's hard to imagine him just shouldering his way under that PTSD

Amazing Spider-Man #53 (November 18):  [Sigh.]  (Notice a pattern?)  I mean, I guess that I'm glad that it's Harry, though, as I said in my review of issue #52, I still don't trust that it isn't actually someone else.  But, for now, let's just accept that it's Harry.  As MJ said in issue #52.LR, how could it be Harry?  Harry is fine.  In that issue, Norman implies that he might have done something to push Harry over the edge again, which isn't difficult to believe.  Of course, Spencer is going to have to show us how Harry got power over life and death; he resurrects Peter here (after killing him at the end of last issue) just like he did Sin-Eater.  But, do I care?  I'm not really sure that I do.

Captain America #25 (November 18):  I'll admit that I'm not exactly sure what Alexa's goals are here.  She and the Red Skull have captured Black Widow, Peggy Carter, Misty Knight, and Thunderbolt Ross.  But, I'm not really sure why they have.  In Sharon's narration, she mentions that Ross was a part of her Power Elite, though I don't remember that.  I'm assuming that he was tyring to lure in Lukin.  I get that she wants revenge, but it seems risky to pull three Daughters of Liberty into your scheme.

Also Read:  Marauders #14 (November 4) and #15 (November 11); Amazing Spider-Man #52.LR (November 11)

Over Year-Old Comics: The Superhero October 7, 14, 21, and 28 (2020) Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Amazing Spider-Man #49 (October 7):  OMFG, I just can't.  For the big 850th issue, I thought that Spencer would reveal who Kindred was.  Instead we just take a fucked-up trip down fucked-up memory lane with fucked-up Norman.  

One of my main complaints about this issue is that Spencer amps up Peter's sense of responsibility so high that it's hard to believe, even for Peter.  For example, Norman tells Peter that he blames Peter for his nervous breakdown and subsequent amnesia.  Norman feels like Peter should've supported him (an adult) when he revealed his identity to him (a child).  To be fair, Peter points out the fact that he was, indeed, a teenager at the time.  That said, he fails to mention that Norman had, you know, stalked and drugged him to set up the aforementioned little tête-à-tête.  Of course, Norman blames his behavior on the drugs' side effects.  In Norman's mind, I guess that Peter should've been able to look past the fact that Norman was holding him hostage.

You'd think that Peter would dismiss this entire argument.  But, no.  Instead, he winds up telling Sin-Eater that his conversation with Norman made him realize that Stan's death is his fault, too, because Stan tried to connect with him and Spidey refused the overture.  I mean, seriously.  I get that Peter has an overdeveloped sense of responsibility, but Spencer is laying it on really thick here,  Are we supposed to believe that Peter is so megalomaniacal that he feels that he, and he alone, is responsible for the decisions that both Green Goblin and Sin-Eater made?

To make matters worse, Pete goes through all this trouble to protect Norman from Sin-Eater only to realize what everyone else already knew:  the only way to stop Norman without killing him is to have Sin-Eater cleanse him.  This epiphany comes after Norman realizes that Ghost-Spider is Gwen Stacy and refers to the God forsaken events of "Sins Past" as he leers at her.  OK, I get it.  It's upsetting.  But, you would've thought that Peter would've realized that Norman was beyond saving when Norman tried to kill him after they successfully subdued Sin-Eater.  But, no, it has to be saving someone else where Peter draws the line.

(As I sidebar here, I don't understand why the Order of the Web just sat there waiting to see what Peter would do.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Web of Life and Destiny told Madame Web that it wasn't the right moment to intervene, but, ugh, I hate that.)

I wish I could say that the back-up stories helped, but they were all but incomprehensible.  This issue is a waste of time from start to finish.  The only good thing about it is that I'm reading it so late that it was free on Comixology.

Marauders #13 (October 7):  This issue makes it clear that the swords named at the end of "X of Swords - Creation" #1 are the swords that each champion - ten on each side - need to bring to fight for the future of Krakoa and thus Earth.  For Storm, it is Skybreaker, the Wakandan king's vibranium sword.  Unfortunately, only the Wakandan king can wield said sword, and it can never leave Wakanda.  Despite Storm's urgent pleas, T'Challa fails to reply, forcing her to fight Shuri to steal Skybreaker.  T'Challa arrives as Storm is leaving and allows her to leave with it, and she joins Magik and Wolverine on Krakoa, ready for battle.  The best part of this issue is Storm's exasperation with the Wakandans, who believe that she should wait for T'Challa's return.  She steals the sword because, as she tells Shuri, Wakanda doesn't get to dictate every situation.  It's yet another reminder that everyone still doesn't accept that the world has changed.

Amazing Spider-Man #50 (October 14):  OMFG, thank God.  Honestly, I just couldn't take it anymore.  It's been pretty clear for a while that Kindred was probably Harry Osborn, and I'm glad that we finally establish that here.  It makes me much more excited about where we go from here.  After all, I feel like we're in a good place now.  

Spencer reveals that Kindred was just using Sin-Eater to get to Norman.  I'm not sure how he chose Overdrive, the Lethal Legion, and Juggernaut as the villains whose powers he stole, but it certainly worked to his advantage to get to Norman where he was hiding deep inside Ravencroft.  

Kindred takes all the sins that Sin-Eater has collected and...dismisses Sin-Eater?  I'm not sure if it's the right word, because it seems like he actually goes to Heaven instead of Hell after Kindred made him admit to himself that he killed his partner all those years ago.  More importantly, though, Kindred then takes the sins that he took from Sin-Eater and infects the Order of the Web with them.

At this point, Madame Web reveals why, at the end of last issue, she said that Peter's decision to sacrifice Norman came too late.  When Peter goes to Dr. Strange for help, Dr. Strange berates him for making a deal with a demonic figure.  We all kind of glossed over that part, didn't we?  We were all, "La la la, Norman will be cured!  What's the downside?"  Oh, right, demonic figure.  While the Order of the Web seems like it's coming after Peter, Norman is now panicked as he knows that Kindred is Harry and wants to save his son.  Probably a little too late, buddy.

New Mutants #13 (October 14):  Brisson starts the issue informing us that Cable and his Light of Galador is one of the X-Men's swords.  Of concern to everyone, though, Doug is also one of the combatants, with Warlock as his sword.  Krakoa does everything in his power to convince him not to go, and Magik tries to train him despite knowing that he's no match for an Arakkii combatants.  But, it's Doug who insists that he go, committed to fulfilling the obligation that he feels to his fellow mutants.  Brisson does a good job here not only giving us insight into Doug's thoughts but also providing updates on other plots, such as Sinister's attempt to steal the Arakkii combatants' swords and the Five's temporary inability to resurrect anyone.  I'll admit that I'm not sure that we really needed this story, but I'm still enjoying it nonetheless.

Amazing Spider-Man #50.LR (October 21):  This issue isn't essential to the main plot, but it certainly fleshes it out a bit as Peter confronts the demonic Order of the Web before he makes his way to Dr. Strange's in issue #50.  We also see Dr. Kafka skeptically deal with Norman Osborn as he tries to convince her that he's reformed.  She suggests that Norman can't simply reconcile with Harry; in case of such family trauma, it helps to have a trusted intermediary.  Enter Mary Jane Watson!

Guardians of the Galaxy #7 (October 21):  This issue is fun.  I particularly enjoyed the screwball moments, like Noh-Var somehow looking guilty of murder on not one, but two, occasions.  It's basically intergalactic "Clue."  I'm also glad that Ewing has Rich mention his therapist, since it's clear that it's working as we get a more stable Rich now.  In previous "Guardians of the Galaxy" series, just as Rich's story started to get interesting, he'd disappear to stop yet another galactic invasion.   That said, Ewing's delivery and packing does still seem a bit odd; I constantly feel like I missed an issue.  I'm hoping that Ewing intentionally implanted this awkwardness (like the bizarre post-credits page) because he's building to something.  Otherwise, it's just strange.

X-Men #13 (October 21):  As Healer and Hope heal him, a dying Apocalypse recalls the moments after the Arakkii mutants realized that they were going to lose.  After the White Sword and his One Hundred Champions left Krakoa to cross into Amenth, Apocalypse recalls that the mutants remaining on Krakoa were initially stronger.  They beat back the hordes that cleaved Okkara into two parts, and Genesis' conversation with the Golden Helm of Amenth and its god Annihilation left her stronger.  But, once Genesis' sister, Isca the Unbeatable, defected to the other side (since she can't lose), Genesis' fire dimmed as they all now that they faced no clear victory.   Leading the mutants into Arakko, Genesis left Apocayplse on Krakoa to ensure only the fittest survive.  I have to say, it is a brilliant rewriting of Apocalypse's origin, giving his obsession with exactly that goal - only the fittest surviving - the type of urgency that I always felt was missing.  Although we now have a better understanding of how the mutants survived the initial fight with the Twilight Blade's hordes, I'm eager to learn how eventually they come close to falling in battle, I think, with the White Sword.  In the meantime, Apocalypse reassembles his sword, Scarab, and prepares to join the champions.

X of Swords:  Stasis (October 28):  This issue is more Hickmanesque than I'd like.  But, if you focus on the events that unfold and put aside the misdirection, it's a pretty straight-forward issue.  

Betsey Braddock, Captain Avalon, and Gorgon join Apocalypse, Cable, Doug Ramsey, Magik, Storm, and Wolverine as Krakoa's sword bearers.  (Notably, they are only nine, not ten.)  On Arakko, a resurrected Genesis, wearing the Golden Helm of Amenth, orders Summoner and the Four Horsemen to seek out the other sword bearers:  Redroot, the Forest (Doug's counterpart as Arakko's voice); Pogg Ur-Pogg (a mercenary who joins Arakko's forces on the promise of getting to plunder a new world - i.e., Earth); Bei the Blood Moon (who really just wants to kill people); the White Sword of the Ivory Spire (who agrees to join Arakkii's force because they agree to grant him whatever he wants if they win, and he clearly has something in mind); and Isca the Unbeaten.  From the chart, it looks like Death, Genesis (as Annihilation), and War are sword bearers along with someone named Solem, though I don't think that we've encountered her/him yet

The X-Men travel to Otherworld and are surprised that they're not immediately faced with combat,  Apocalypse notes that the swords may just be the key to entry, which means that we might not exactly see a sword-based brawl.  Saturnyne arrives and refuses to clarify, sending the X-Men to their quarters before a banquet that night.  In their rooms, they each discover a tarot card linked presumably to the role that they'll play in the contest.  Apocalypse is furious that he got the Lovers and confronts Saturnyne, only to discover why he got it, as he faces Genesis and realizes that she is now Annihilation, his greatest enemy.

Also Read:  Captain America #24 (October 14); Falcon & Winter Solider #4 (October 21); Amazing Spider-Man #51 (October 28)

New-ish Comics!: The Top-Shelf February March 23 and 30 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)

Star Wars:  Darth Vader #21 (March 23):  Oof, this issue is pretty hard to follow.  It has a number of moments where you think we've hit the climax only for us to move onto another scene.

Ochi's search for connections between the people on Sabé's list of Crimson Dawn collaborators leads him to General Romodi, who mourns the soldiers that he lost in Vader's purge.  Ochi realizes that they weren't Crimson Dawn but were all involved in the operation to wipe out the Amidalans.  (Smart, Sabe.  Have the Empire get your revenge for you.)  

The issue gets even more confusing when Vader and Valance hit the road with their crew, the "local heroes" and the professional assassins.  Chilla Zin, an insectoid assassin, laments that Baron Zanchal, who they killed last issue, wasn't a verified hit.  Tanka, the Trandoshan local hero, says that Zanchal had it coming.  Zin stresses that assassins follow rules, but no one is really listeningtohim.  Gee-Ninety enjoys camaraderie with Tanka and the heroes, though Loriach, another assassin, warns him not to get too close to them.  Unsurprisingly, this warning proves prophetic.  

The team arrives on Tranchar in their search for a Lieutenant Grapa, who was also part of the Amidalan mission.  Upon arriving at the Imperial base, an unexpectedly strong droid contingent opens fire on the crew.  Gee-Ninety is upset when Tanka is injured and takes out the droids.  Upon entering the base, Tanka is outraged that the Imperials are torturing people.  Gee-Ninety goes on a shooting spree to take out the Imps and win Tanka's favor, only for Vader to slice him in half.  A wounded Grapa expresses confusion when Vader asks her about the Admidalan mission, since they killed them all.  Tanka takes out Grapa for reasons that I don't fully understand, and, to make matters more confusing, Vader doesn't take out Tanka for killing her.

The only reason that I can see for Vader letting Tanka live is that he's distracted by the fact that Romodi seemed to know that Vader was coming (given the droid contingent).  He suspects Ochi, who panics and flees to Sabé.  Of course, despite Ochi's insistence that he wasn't followed, Vader arrives and tells Ochi that he knew that he was Crimson Dawn.  But he plans to use Ochi and Sabé in ways that aren't clear yet.

As I said, it's confusing.  I like that we pay attention to the minor characters here, but it's a lot of pieces moving on the board to follow.  I also can't believe that Vader would let Tanka survive, so I wonder how that's going to go.

Newburn #5 (March 30):  Newburn is beyond evil here.  He gets himself sent to jail to prove that Sal Russo, an Albano family capo, leaked information that got Sandro Albano killed.  Sal takes a liking to his new bunkmate (whom he recognizes) and calls in a favor to prevent the Black Council from killing Newburn.  Later, he reveals that the Council owes him because he gave them some low-level drop locations, part of his revenge on the Albanos for abandoning him.  Newburn tells Sal that one of those locations got Sandro killed and calls Emily to tell the Albanos.  The next day Newburn reads the paper as Albano thugs go to Sal's cell to kill him.  Phillips does a spectacular job showing Sal's regret for trusting Newburn as he lies on his bunk knowing what's coming.  Emily picks up Newburn after he's released, and, when she asks if he's OK, his role in Sal's death seems not to affect him at all.  It's chilling, and I find myself wondering all the more why he does what he does.

Also Read:  We Have Demons #1 (March 23); Star Wars:  Bounty Hunters #21 (March 30)