In 2021 I’d like to cross over the 1,000 comics review barrier, meaning reviews that I (Mike Clarke a.k.a. pghhead) contribute to the blog. That’s what this odyssey is about, beginning January 01, 2021. Wish me luck. . . .
# GOAL FOR SEPTEMBER 10 . . . 695 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 632 comics documented
#611 - #615 OLD HAUNTS #1-5 (AWA/Upshot, 2020) A second reading of this increased my appreciation. The color work here is creative and remarkable. Lee Loughridge should get some nominations for Best Colorist when the 2020 awards come up. A longer review appears on this blog for September 01. FOUR STARS.
#616 - #617 X-MEN BLUE #4 - #5 (Marvel, 2017)
I rescued some random issues of X-MEN BLUE from the bargain bins and just got around to reading them in advance of the Labor Day Comics Flea Market at Captain Blue Hen. (Yes, if you’re interested in these books come and get ‘em.)
The original five X-Men (Marvel Girl, Cyclops, Angel, Beast and Iceman) are now working for the good of all humanity from a base in Madripoor and taking direction from Magneto (at least, for now).
When they investigate reports of a creature in the Colorado mountains they find James Hudson, Wolverine’s son from the Ultimate Universe. They persuade him to join their group, but not before everyone has to fend off the New Marauders (crossing over to grab Hudson).
Cullen Bunn is at the helm on this series (and remarkably, throughout it’s 36 issue run) and sticks to the action, with some interesting and amusing banter and jibes between the members. Jlian Lopez’s art is appealing. THREE STARS.
Events here occur while Captain America has claimed the U.S. as a Hydra territory. Emma Frost and Xorn negotiate with Hydra to establish a protected mutant nation, New Tian.
But they are imprisoning mutants (including some Blue team members) who don’t agree with Xorn’s ideas. And, leading New Tian’s strike force is Havoc (brother of Cyclops). Things aren’t going well, until Polaris (Magneto’s daughter and Havoc’s ex-girlfriend) shows up. Cory Smith takes over art chores, and don’t miss a beat.
THREE STARS.
Magneto confronts Sebastian Shaw at the Hellfire Club’s London location while the Blue team is off-world. Polaris has become possessed by the persona of Malice. Later Magneto is persuaded by the New Tian team to join their cause. Troubles ahead. Artist on this one is Jorge Molina, also good. THREE STARS.
#621 X-MEN BLUE #32 (Marvel, 2018)
Magneto has been betrayed and he is mad. He dismantles Hellfire Clubs across the globe in pursuit of Emma Frost, who worked against him. Magneto is now pushing his more aggressive mutant agenda. Jean Grey and company are actually trying to protect Frost.
The artist on this one is Andres Genolet, and the quality has dropped off, which pulled me out of the story several times. Genolet’s style is to depict characters with open mouths, often exaggerated, or gritting their teeth. The repetition of this gets to be a bit much. TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Marc Guggenheim and Ardian Syaf are the creative team behind this version of the X-Men, comprising Kitty Pryde (leader), Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Prestige and Old Man Logan.
The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants kidnap the major of New York City. A team member almost dies in the extraction and the Gold Team figures out who was behind the kidnapping. Ugly politics. Ugh.
THREE STARS.
Luke Ross fills in on art this issue, a departure from the Gold drama to present the biography of Kologoth, an unwilling member of The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (them again) controlled by Mesmero. The X-Men held him captive for further analysis but a mutant-killer broke in and released him.
While he’s contacting his subordinates in the Negative Zone (his home) we are treated (using that term loosely, mind you) to his back-story. I felt sorry for this creepy monster when his parents abandoned him in the wild because he was born a “mutant”. Later, I stopped liking him when he turned ruthless and vicious and built an empire (that symbol is a variation on the Nazi logo). His story, and how he came to be on Earth with the bad mutants takes up the whole issue. I want to say “so what” but I’m biting my tongue. The art elevated this a little. THREE STARS.
Ah, crap. This doesn’t end here. The story concludes in X-Men Blue #15.
This was just a big fight issue and I’m not vested in this at all. I’d seek out that finale if I was. TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
Issue #16 was also notable in that Kitty and Piotr/Colossus finally hook up. There’s also a cool television debate between Kitty and Lydia Nance, the anti-mutant politician/bigot. After this issue, the art chores transfer from Lan Medina to Ken Lashley - - and things look better.
In Issue #17 the remaining members of the Gold team (minus Prestige, critically injured) get special costumes and a ship designed by Blue Marvel and enter the Negative Zone to rescue Kitty and Kurt. They land shy of the mark, in the middle of a combat zone between the rebel forces and Kologoth’s armies. Meanwhile, the tyrant’s advisors are considering turning over the captive X-Men rather than give an advantage to the rebels. But the X-Men haven’t taken any sides, yet. They just want to get Kitty and Kurt back.
Back at the detention center, Nightcrawler attempts to blind teleport out of his cell and ends up merging with the outer layers of a temple statue.
Issue #18: Kitty is released and Kurt is pronounced dead (but lazy Kologoth just can’t find him). Disagreements occur, a battle ensues, and a gigantic god is awakened (the statue, which came to life when Kurt finally broke free of it). Interesting story here, with plenty of drama - - but I don’t have the remaining issues of this five-parter. (And I’m okay with that). THREE STARS.
#628 - #629 X-MEN GOLD #35 - #36 (Marvel, 2018) “Godwar” Parts 2 and 3 of 3.
By this point the artistic team changes from issue to issue. The art is adequate, but not wowing me.
Storm visits the African village where she was raised to pay her respects to her deceased adoptive mother. A death cult led by the God Uovu has taken root and possessed the villagers. Uovu can even raise the dead, and brings back Storm’s true parents. When that doesn’t keep her from trying to stop him, he zombifies both the dead and the villagers to turn against her.
Her Asgardian Stormcaster hammer isn’t heeding her summons for some reason. But, everything works out by the final issue. Like Bunn on X-Men Blue, Guggenheim has also had a long run on this title.
TWO AND ONE-HALF STARS.
This brings out the fear of “mutants” and Kitty learns that even her friends are prejudiced. She discovers another mutant among the summer camp attendees and they bond, sharing their differences together. It’s a feel-good story with a satisfactory ending. Marco Failla’s art is very appealing, like it’s geared to this story in a young-adult Archie fashion.
McGuire is a skilled writer who has authored some award-winning young adult novels as well as more mature science-fiction/fantasy. She also writes horror/techno-thrillers under the pen-name Mira Grant.
While I admire her fiction, I wasn’t keen on her comics writing (Spider-Gwen didn’t do it for me) until I came across this little gem. Maybe a bit corny, but effective (even for older readers). FOUR STARS.
#631 DARK AGES #1 (Marvel, September 2021)
I picked up this first issue to see if I want to either follow this monthly or wait for a trade paperback. My initial thoughts are that I may just do neither.
Script and art are not the issue here. I’m just not feeling it for this title. The Marvel Universe unites to combat a threat to the very existence of the planet. Sound familiar? Like something you might have read before? Plus, the hint that this is a “what if?” story minimizes the significance of it for me. I definitely think it’s leaning that way because some prominent characters don’t make it to the last page.
THREE STARS.
This series, on the other hand, is one that I became immersed in soon after the opening exchange between Scarecrow and Simon Saint that sets the whole thing up. There are enough layers and side plots here to make this very interesting.
Although, I’m not excited about all those crossover issues. If I keep going, I’ll probably limit it to the Batman main title, and maybe I Am Batman and the Fear State Omega wrap-up.
THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
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