Tag: Wolverine and the X-Men

And the X-Men Next Maggott Award Goes To…

Uncanny X-Men #375
Uncanny X-Men #375

Creating new mutants is hard. For every Gambit…there’s a Maggott.

Yes, there was (briefly) an X-Man named Maggott. Strange but true – and one of the oddest creations in mutant history may have a successor as the world’s strangest mutant with the oddest power!

Back to Maggott in case you missed his story:

Japheth was a South African mutant with abilities based in his digestive system. Maggott had two slugs (Eany and Meany) inside him that once released outside the body could “eat” any solid matter and transfer the energy back to Japheth. Maggott also possessed psychometric powers. This cover of his first appearance was Maggott at his full power – he was actually very frail looking and he had a heartbreaking origin. Japheth really didn’t last long with the X-Men and was later killed in the Weapon X program.

Since the rebirth of the mutant gene and emergence of new mutants in the aftermath of AvX – Jason Aaron and Nick Lowe have been creating some “interesting” new children of the atom – in I would call in the tradition of the deceased Maggott – RIP.

And the winner of the next Maggott goes to… Continue reading And the X-Men Next Maggott Award Goes To…

Romancing Kitty Pryde

Wolverine and the X-Men #14 courtesy Marvel

  Fans of Kitty Pryde and Colossus are teased again in this week’s Wolverine and the X-Men #14. This AvX tie-is a slice of life with humor, drama and hope at the Jean Grey School in a world where the Phoenix Five rule and Avengers are hunted.

  Kitty and Peter split after the events of Fear Itself and Schism. This issue sees a Phoenix fueled Colossus trying to woo his way back into Kitty’s heart. The man who could have everything just wants the love of his life back. Fans like me just want our favorite mutant couple back together but Jason Aaron is making a convincing argument for Kitty and Bobby.

  Kitty’s date with Colossus gets hot but not in the way you hope. By the end I’m excited to see Kitty grow as co-headmaster of the school and develop a romance with Iceman. Bobby comes to a grim realization after an encounter with the Phoenix powered Cyclops.

  It’s amazing how many characters Jason Aaron juggles while giving them all moments that carry the stories forward. From a lovesick Toad’s “date” with Husk to Doop’s defense of the school there are surprising moments of that make you laugh and connect with the odd cast.

  Marvel NOW! is coming. Brian Michael Bendis is taking over the X-Men franchise with All-New X-Men but this issue shows why Jason Aaron should keep crafting this title that delivers heart, humor and thrills. The staff and students of the Jean Grey School deserve to stay. If the editors do cancel it the Bullpen deserves a Bamf infestation!

 By Editor

 

 

  Sometimes I feel like Avengers vs. X-Men should be title Operation Hate the X-Men.

Gladiator Takes on The Phoenix Five

Wolverine and the X-Men #13 courtesy Marvel.com

This week is a major showdown Gladiator (Emperor of the Shi’ar) arrives on Earth to wipe out Phoenix Five and rescue his son in Wolverine and the X-Men #13 by Jason Aaron and Nick Bradshaw. Wait until he finds out what Wolverine did to Kid Gladiator? Marvel.com revealed some of Bradshaw’s kinetic and color packed pages.

Wolverine and the X-Men #13 courtesy Marvel.com

  Emperor Kallark’s son known as Kid Gladiator has been at the Jean Grey School under the watchful eye of Shiar warrior Warbird.

 

Wolverine and the X-Men #13 courtesy Marvel.com

  Warbird is part of Marjorie Liu’s Astonishing X-Men arc. past. This issue promises to reveal more of Warbird’s past and a date for Kitty Pryde?

Wolverine and the X-Men #13 courtesy Marvel.com

  Here’s hoping Gladiator survives! Jonathan Hickman’s new Avengers series is said have a huge cast and he favors the old school cosmic epics so maybe Gladiator or Warbird might turn up on his book.  And given the cosmic direction Marvel movies are going maybe we’ll see the Shi’ar Empire in an Avengers sequel or if a Guardians of the Galaxy movie happens?

By Editor

Beast Versus Sabretooth!

Wolverine and the X-Men #8 preview art courtesy Marvel.com and Comics Newsarama

  In a month packed with Avengers Versus X-Men faceoffs I’m excited to see the Beast unleashed! Marvel teased Hank versus Sabretooth in Wolverine and The X-Men #8.

 Beast has been quite comfortable in his creative genius mode building the Jean Grey School and teaching the students. We haven’t seen Hank cut loose in a while. Victor Creed is back from the dead and working for Kade Kilgore of the new Hellfire Club.

  Can Hank unleash his ultimate inner animal against one of Marvel’s most ruthless, sadistic killers?

  For more preview art albums and solicitations here’s the Comics Newsarama link.

X-Kid’s Fiery Future and Kitty’s Labor Pains

Wolverine and The X-Men #4 cover by Nick Bradshaw courtesy Marvel.com

  Fun 101 is in session in Wolverine and The X-Men #4 out this week. Jason Aaron continues taking us on great ride with drama, action and humor.

  Aaron may become the “John Hughes” of mutant writers with this issue – and I mean that as a huge compliment since I was a teen in that era. The way Aaron captures the inner struggles, hopes and fears of this motley student body reminds me of the Hughes era teen films.

  Would that make Quentin Quire a psychotic Ferris Buller?  

  Two refugees from the Dark Angel Saga in Uncanny X-Force join the Jean Grey School. Deathlok is a guest lecturer delivering dire predictions for the students and we see a vision of the future that includes one student sporting a very familiar firebird image.

  Marvel freaked me out with an eerie preview image of Kitty Pryde pregnant and surrounded by Brood. In this issue Kitty’s labor pains begin and the headmistress receives a second biological shock.

  Nick Bradshaw takes over from Chris Bachalo as artist. Bradshaw’s work reminds me of Art Adams and is perfect for the chaotic cast. This is a book that keeps delivering fun energy and surprises.

Join the Class at The Jean Grey School

Wolverine and the X-Men #4

  Wolverine and the X-Men is one of my favorite new titles. Logan and Kitty Pryde are the new headmasters at the Jean Grey School. Marvel is giving you a chance to attend.

 

  Here’s your assignment: Wednesday, January 11th at 2pm EST, log on to Twitter for Future History 101 taught by Kitty and guest instructor Deathlok! My favorite new character Broo will be in the class too.

  Log on to Twitter and follow @JeanGreySchool, @JGSHeadmistress, @DeathlokL17, @GenesisHero, @KidGladiator1, @QQuire, @idie_okonkwo, @_Broodling_, @SANTORULES and @_Anole_.

 Make sure your pencils and minds are sharp because the Headmaster’s claws are too! I’d hate to be sent to detention.

He’s Quentin Quire! Wolverine and the X-Men #3

Wolverine and the X-Men #3 courtesy Marvel.com

  One of my favorite books of 2011 is Wolverine and the X-Men. The best word to describe how I feel after reading is joy, pure joy. Jason Aaron delivers a perfect mix of action, humor and the unexpected.

  I just read issue #3 of the opening day chaos at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning in which the pint-sized new Hellfire Club unleashed Krakoa to attack the students and school. I was surprised when Aaron brought Quentin Quire back from oblivion for Schism. I shook my head when Kid Omega was in the lineup for this series but now I can’t imagine the book without him.

  The odd cast of old school favorites (Logan, Kitty, Beast, Iceman, Rachel) and new kids (Idie, Kid Gladiator, Broo, Quentin Quire) are an entertaining dynamic. The book is filled with humor and character and shows us a new side of Logan.

  This final issue of the first arc is filled with surprises including a funny flashback between Logan and Captain America, a clever cameo by a non-mutant favorite hero on his day job and a huge shocker in the last panel that foreshadows some painful lessons ahead for the staff and students of the Jean Grey School.

Kitty Pryde Online

Shadowcat from Marvel Super Hero Squad courtesy Marvel.com

  One of my favorite X-Women is newest playable character in Super Hero Squad Online. On the Marvel site they are calling her by her former code name: Shadowcat, but she’s sporting the blue and yellow look.

The many looks of Kitty Pryde by David Lopez courtesy Marvel.com

  In Wolverine and the X-Men, Kitty is co-headmaster with Logan of the new Jean Grey School. Seeing Shadowcat takes me back to her blue/black look in Uncanny X-Men then Excalibur. The Shadowcat costume had a Black Canary but with a mask feel – and my favorite.

 

But one look that’s really scary for Kitty – pregnant and surrounded by Brood! Click here to see the preview from the February issue of Wolverine and the X-Men.