Category: Books

How About ARMOR in All-Female X-MEN

Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha and Omega #3 courtesy Marvel
Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha and Omega #3 courtesy Marvel

With the announcement of Brian Wood’s all-female X-Men book I started thinking of a favorite female mutant who has kind of fallen on the back burner. Jubilee will be the center of the new series that will feature Storm, Psylocke, Rogue, Kitty Pryde and Rachel Grey.

What about Armor? Hisako Ichiki was created by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday during their Astonishing X-Men run. I recently “watched” the entire Whedon/Cassaday era now on motion comics.

Brian Wood used Armor in his excellent limited series: Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha and Omega. Hisako and Logan were trapped in a world created by Quentin Quire. Armor’s power is similar to many other Marvel women (Susan Storm, Cecelia Reyes) but Hisako in the right writer’s hands is magic. Here’s hoping Hisako may Armor up in a future arc of Wood’s or Jason Aaaron’s X-Men series.

By Editor

 

Date Night in WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN

Wolverine and the X-Men #24 courtesy Marvel
Wolverine and the X-Men #24 courtesy Marvel

X-Men books will always be packed with action and fights but it’s the relationships that keep us coming back. Jason Aaron has written a passionate love letter to X-fans of all ages in Wolverine and the X-Men #16 filled with hot hookups, sweet dates and mutant romance.

 

Storm is adjusting to life as a newly single woman and life back at the school when she turns to Wolverine to work through some issues and ask for favors. The flirtation and fruition of Logan and Ororo is beautifully written and drawn.

 

Kitty and Bobby finally have a first date after a year of flirting that takes that goes from awkward to unexpected. Teen Jean Grey of the past shares some “bonding time” with a surprise member of the modern age of mutant kids. The final romantic thread of this tale revolves around Idie and Broo with a monstrous cliffhanger.

 

This issue is a perfect crossroads of previous stories in this book and the first arc of All-New X-Men and sets up Storm’s new status quo in Uncanny X-Force. The beauty and brilliance of Jason Aaron is that you can pick issue this up and enjoy immensely but if you really know your old and current X-Men history it makes it all the more moving.

Continue reading Date Night in WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN

AVENGERS In The Savage Land

 

Avengers #4 courtesy Marvel
Avengers #4 courtesy Marvel

  Marvel promised the new Avengers book would be BIG. Jonathan Hickman and Jerome Opena delivered in a BIG way. Three incredible new villains sought to destroy and remake Earth in the first arc. This week’s final showdown on Mars introduced new team members including Hyperion, Smasher and Captain Universe.

   Did Earth’s Mightiest Heroes really stop the “Garden” from growing a new Earth? I can’t wait for the next issue when the Avengers head to the Savage Land. I wanted to share part of this Comics Newsarama exclusive in which we learn more about the origin of the new Hyperion – a powerhouse addition to the team roster.

By Editor

Jason Aaron on X-MEN Villain’s Resurrection

courtesy Marvel Comics
courtesy Marvel Comics

  In Wolverine and the X-Men #23 Jason Aaron resurrected Azazel. The first storyline (The Draco) that introduced the demonic villain was controversial at the time and Azazel went to limbo (not the Magik kind either.) The character popped up in the X-Men: First Class movie. Aaron tells Comic Book Resources why he brought Nightcrawler’s father back into comics.

  “The reasons to bring him back are many-fold, as we’ll see over the course of the next two to three arcs. I didn’t really worry about the fact that the original storyline he appeared in was very divisive. I don’t think there are any bad characters. It’s more how you write that character and what you do with them.

  I’ve had plans for Azazel for a long time and his return means we’ll start to see the explanation of why there are Bamfs in the Jean Grey School. That, of course, goes back to our very first issue. This is all stuff that’s been in the works for a very long time and will come to a head later in the year in what will probably be the biggest arc we’ve ever done with “Wolverine & the X-Men.”

  In The Draco story it was revealed that Azazel and Mystique were the parents of Nightcrawler. Mystique will be a major villain in All-New X-Men with an agenda involving the original five X-Men. Imagine Raven’s reaction when she learns Azazel is back? Could this lead to Mystique working with the X-Men? With Azazel’s return could this signal the resurrection of the real Kurt Wagner?

By Editor

UNCANNY AVENGERS #3 Review

Uncanny Avengers #3 courtesy Marvel
Uncanny Avengers #3 courtesy Marvel

Madness takes Manhattan! Manipulated mutant hate erupts! Only a select unit of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and Children of the Atom can stop the wrath of the reborn Red Skull!

Was Uncanny Avengers #3 worth the wait?

YES!

Red Skull is using the brain of Professor X to incite mutant hate. The villain’s strange S-Men help fan the flames of hatred and violence as everyday citizens turn on each other and one iconic hero’s will is tested. Havok and Captain America clash. Wolverine’s reaction upon learning of the Red Skull’s heinous act is classic. Rick Remender and John Cassaday pack this chapter with big character moments and an epic twist as an Avenger turns.

By Editor

Nightwing vs. Joker

 

Nightwing #16 courtesy DC Comics
Nightwing #16 courtesy DC Comics

It’s curtains at the circus with tents of terror courtesy of the Joker in this week’s Nightwing #16. Kyle Higgins and Eddy Barrows create a violent, spooky study in evil winning. Dick runs to Haly’s Circus only to find one horrific hearbreak after another.

This may become the ultimate Nightwing versus Joker clash. When I think of all the tie-in issues of Death of the Family this may be the toughest to read as the Joker unleashes one shocker after another at Dick until the final moment that will leave you guessing until the finale in Batman #17.

By Editor

YOUNG AVENGERS #1 Review

Young Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel
Young Avengers #1 courtesy Marvel

Action, teen angst, hooking up and making out! Marvel has a new teenage dream! Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie with Mike Norton rebuild Earth’s Mightiest Teens and infuse Young Avengers #1 with the hormonal energy, fury and fun of electric youth!

The creative team have HUGE shoes to fill. Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung’s Young Avengers run was perfection. Excitement, anticipation and maybe a little trepidation has been building since the announcement of this series. Gillen and McKelvie deliver the heart of the original but give this new “assembling” of teen heroes an edge.

In the finale of Avengers: The Children’s Crusade the team called it quits. In the premiere Wiccan and Hulkling are struggling with their vow to stop the superheroics and Kate Bishop is enjoying an “out of this world” new boyfriend when classic foes attacks. Kid Loki, Noh-Varr and Miss America infuse the teen soap with passion and danger and Gillen delivers one mother of a cliffhanger!

My most anticipated Marvel Now book overdelivers. Young Avengers #1 is packed with fun, heart, humor, action in a stylish narrative packed with promise and substance.

By Editor

All-New UNCANNY X-FORCE #1 Review

Uncanny X-Force #1 courtesy Marvel
Uncanny X-Force #1 courtesy Marvel

  Uncanny X-Force #1 is X-Men with a twisted dose of nastiness and attitude swirling in those mutant genes. New writer Sam Humphries doesn’t try to follow in Rick Remender’s trail but uses what’s happened before to launch into new concepts and settings with new characters and favorites moving in new directions.

Psylocke and Storm are working out some “issues” in this adventure that takes them into a seedy, drug fueled Los Angeles underworld where they encounter Puck, Spiral and a new threat that may be behind a hive mind of drug addicted ravers.

Humphries reveals the aftermath of the previous Uncanny X-Force finale and how Wolverine and Elizabeth’s relationship and roles have changed. I like the way Humphreys writes Ororo as Betsy’s “wingman” so to speak. Storm has issues of her own to work out. I love seeing the driven, passionate Psylocke – especially when she unloads on Spiral. Those two women have a serious history of hurt. I didn’t mind but I definitely noticed that Humphies has Betsy cursing like she’s in an X-Men flick by Quentin Tarantino.

I loved Puck’s introduction, the new costume designs by Kris Anka, Ron Garney’s 90’s vibe art and the naughty surprise on the final page. This book has edge, an attitude and I’m ready for more.

By Editor