This Week in Comics Part II

Astonishing X-men 23
Whedon astonishing run continues. Good storytelling is such a rarity and with this book each month (or two) the story continues to be awesome. Classic Emma line, "I am, by definition, my own best friend." And guess who ain't dead...yup Cyke is still kicking and has his powers to boot! Kaboom! Or has Wolverine said, "Damn, Summers." Obviously Cyke is my favorite and Whedon just nails him...perfect characterization...and why Cyclops is by far the definition of an X-men. You might have flash, you might be unbreakable, have armor, have claws but when it comes down to a fight, I'd take Scott watching my back.

P.S. My fanboy rift for the year!

X-men Messiah Complex Chapter 1

Well this looks to a cross-over worthy of discussing. The set up is compelling, the first new mutant born since House of M (ughhhh finally 2 years later we are dealing with the ramifications of Bendis's little atom bomb). A race to get to it first. Art looks good...hopefully this will shake up the books and make them readable.

Uncanny X-men 492
Chapter 2 in the Messiah Complex. Is it any wonder why comics have such a hard time getting into books or at least coming back into them. I appreciate the history and all but boy who are the acolytes, what is up with Sinister and the Marauders, and where did Predator X come from? Or is Predator X just a blatant attempt to create a foe for Wolverine to do some good ole beat down on in future issues. And why is Prof X acting so funny? Will he go mental again and how will Magneto play in all this? Anyway good issue and it appears all the X-books are on board so each week is presenting a running chapter. Hopefully this will lead to something..

X-factor 25
Chapter 3 leads off with the worst x-team. If any team has no direction this is it. I tried to get on board but nothing is worthwhile. Once the original X-team moved back to being mainstream there was no reason to continue this book yet it has! Can't editors just say no? Anyway it looks like X-Force is coming back so maybe the Factor will be done. Anyway the multiple man goes into the future and his Layla goes with. What does "46664" on her shirt mean? Anyway these first couple of issues are just the prologue setting the tale. I'm thinking the New X-men will be making a splash this go around.

This Week In Comics

Batman 668
Wow a real detective story? Morrison continues his strong stories. This one again centers on all the "cheap" imitations of the real "Batman". A welcome reprieve from the Gotham villains, which Morrison really hasn't exploited. Missed the art normal art team. Not a big fan of J.H. Williams' art. Interesting page layouts but poor follow through as the advertising really interrupted the flow. Interesting to see what happens.

Astonishing X-men 22
Once again Whedon shows that he is the best X-writer in the last 15 years. Amazing storyline, captures the imagination, strong characters, and unbelievable cliffhangers. Whedon has a thing for really beating down my favorite character. This one really leaves Cyke floating into oblivion. First he loses his optic blast, now he is floating into space, but at least he is still the leader, always the leader. Some great lines in this one, Beast's line about, "You know, I thought I'd have a lot more fun if I ever got to say this...that's no moon." and Wolverine's "Good Luck, Summers". That last one is the essence between Wolverine and Cyke. The dueling egos, the constant professionals, the love of the same woman, the constant sparing between two great heroes but in the end the endless respect that both have for each other. Good stuff...good book...not happy about only 2 issues left :-(

Captain America 29
Big week two incredible storylines. Brubaker is doing a tremendous job telling a complex tale and keeping it interesting. I really need to get his first 24 issues! Anyway Winter Soldier plays his card but gets trumped (for now), Stark is realizing that SHIELD is a giant mess and a sinking ship, and hey we even get Natasha doing her best imitation of Spidey. Kind of a linking issue...no real eye openers...but another piece of the puzzle to ponder over.





Ultimate Spider-Man 112
New artist! A welcome site...I was getting tired of Bagley's art...not that it wasn't a heck of a run but it was getting dated. Immonen adds some life to the characters. A new perspective, a new starting point. The story seems a bit fresher...some of the previous series were getting a bit drawn out. Anyway not much to report, a lead off story laying the foundation of the spidey and the goblin.






X-men 202
Reading all the x-books for the endangered species back story makes me realize there are too many mutants running around. When you read Astonishing X-men you get the point...there are 6 tight characters with a good team dynamic. Some of these other books just have too many mutants running around. No dynamic just we have these important characters that should be in a book but their not so let's throw them in. This issue has the new x-men in it which just makes it all the more busy. Aren't they busy with Magik? Ughhhh. At least we have Mr Sinister...he is always a good baddie.



New X-men 41
Well the quest for Magik is completed...yet no Magik at least not one that isn't still in Limbo. Of course what the x-teams don't need is another character but it was a nice diversion to see an old school mutant. This issue we got a surprise panel of spidey and Dr Strange. How about that? And a nice appearance of the astonishing group even though they are light years away in space...can't we sort of have some continuity. How about some book cancellations and get the core X groups together. Really two x-teams and a new mutant type book is all you need. Readers do appreciate some continuity (even though we now that Wolverine has a personal time dilation device which allows him to be in all the books simultaneously! Ha). Anyway the quest for Magik story was a bit disappointed. For 4-5 books all we did was establish that Magik is around and now she is in charge of limbo. No real character developments...pretty weak.