Flash Review - 11/16/11

Avengers Academy #22 – The best part of this issue was the intersecting of the two big stories going on right now: ReGenesis and Shattered Heroes.  It also brought us something we don’t get to see enough of, Quicksilver and Magneto.  Whenever these two hotheads get together, you just always know that it’s going to be explosive.  Other highlights: the return of Wizkid! Finesse has feelings!  And Hazmat makes inappropriate lesbians jokes at Lightspeed!  And in all this excitement, Cyclops still managed to find time to be a douche and push his newly acquired war mongering attitude.

Fear Itself #7.3: Iron Man – Just like most the the Fear Itself epilogues, this one was boring.  Yeah Iron Man fought Odin and we saw the Grey Gargoyle repent for what he had done, but who cares?  They’ve just officially dragged out Fear Itself so far that I just don’t care anymore.  It was an alright issue but it was a story that could have just been told in Iron Man’s own book.

Generation Hope #13 – Finally this title is kicking into high gear.  I’ve been reading Hope’s little adventures for months, wishing I had just burned my $3.99 instead, but now I actually find myself getting excited about what’s happening in them.  I love Pixie joining a team for real and I’m very intrigued by Velocidad’s aging problem.  The more I get to know him, the more he seems like he would belong more over in Avengers Academy with all of their power induced problems.  So excited about seeing Sebastian Shaw next issue, and I can’t wait to see how he handles Emma dumping him on an island and Namor finding out he’s alive.

Fear Itself: The Fearless #3 – BORED!  I don’t even care about these damn hammers anymore.  This honestly should have been a story that popped up next year or longer, when people had just started to forget about the hammers and then they come back.  All I see when I see #3 is “oh god there’s 9 more issues to this!”  And to make it worse, they threw the Secret Avengers in there (the worst Avengers team around) just to makes it more angsty and boring.  EPIC FAIL.

New Mutants #34 – Woo Hoo!  Blink is back and not evil!  Thank god!  I was never a fan of how they killed her during the Phalanx Covenant and never brought her back, other than her AOA version, (and I was even more against her being brought back as evil during Necrosha) so I am so excited to see her being tracked down by the New Mutants and even helping people.  Maybe she will follow X-man’s example and join the New Mutants when this is all over.  Although let’s not forget that there’s this weird “Diskhord” group doing god knows what…..I just really hope she doesn’t die.

X-Factor #227 – I’ve never had such negative feelings about an issue that I truly enjoyed before.  We were told in all the promos that this issue a cast member would die.  Since they already pulled the “kill Madrox’s dupe” thing years ago (you know, in Fallen Angels and X-Factor #100) I really didn’t think that they would even go for that…but they did!  And the only twist they bothered to throw in was that TWO dupes were killed and the first dupe killed the second dupe!  SHOCKER!  I have to be honest, I almost hope that someone else dies next issue because that was a huge disappointment.  Now on the other hand, we’ve suspected for several issues that there might be some issues with Guido because of Layla reviving him, but according to Bloodbath’s powers he really doesn’t have a soul!  Very interesting development!

X-men #21 – This book is going to be awesome any day now!  They’ve added some new and better cast members like Psylocke, Domino and Warpath, now all we need is cooler and more interesting stories.  Ever since this book started, they just haven’t been turning out the interesting stories that a core X-titles should be expected to.  First we had that crappy vampire storyline, then the Spider-man/Lizard stupidness, moving onto the the Evolutionaries (which wasn’t that bad but took too long), and let’s not forget that less than epic FF arc that we had to endure.  I am sure that with Storm finally taking a more leadership-like role (or at least it seems that way) things will brighten up in this book but so far the progress has been slow…

My Weekly Pull List - 11/23/11

Wow, talk about a week where I can breathe1 I've been enjoying the slower weeks since Fear Itself wound down, but only 6 regular books (plus Fantastic Four which I'm only getting for an issues or two) is unheard for the better part of the last year!  Really lets me enjoy the issues I DO get :)

Alpha Flight #6

Annihilators: Earthfall #3

Astonishing X-Men #44

Avengers: Solo #2

Fantastic Four #600

Secret Avengers #19 SH

Wolverine & the X-Men #2 RG

RG = ReGenesis

SH = Shattered Heroes

Marvel Comics On-sale - 11/23/11

 Alright!  No Fear Itself epilogue nonsense this week! 
Alpha Flight #6

Annihilators: Earthfall #3

Astonishing X-Men #44

Avengers Origins: Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver #1

Avengers: Solo #2

Avengers: Solo #2 (Movie Variant)

Brilliant #2

Brilliant #2 (Oeming Variant)

Brilliant #2 (Mack Variant)

Captain America & Bucky #624

Daken: Dark Wolverine #17

Fantastic Four #600

Invincible Iron Man #510

Invincible Iron Man #510 (MC 50th Anniversary Variant)

Iron Man 2.0 #10

Kapow! Guinness World Record Special #1

Kick-Ass 2 #5

Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #20

The Mighty Thor #8

Secret Avengers #19 SH

Secret Avengers #19 (MC 50th Anniversary Variant) SH

Ultimate Comics Hawkeye #4

Vengeance #5

Wolverine & the X-Men #2 RG

Wolverine & the X-men #2 (MC 50th Anniversary Variant) RG

RG = ReGenesis
SH = Shattered Heroes

Shattered Roster! - Review Avengers #19

I have some definite mixed feeling about this one folks!  Some really awesome developments happened this issue, but then again some really questionable (if not downright douchey) decisions were also made.  They stretched this roster change out for 2 full issues, and all I can say is I was definitely thrown by some of the people that did and did not make the cut.  

For one thing, I am intrigued by the U.S.Agent scene at the very beginning.  They haven’t really been showing John Walker very much lately and its interesting to see a scene with him being berated by Maria Hill since he’s never really been one to take scolding very well.  I almost wouldn’t be surprised if he showed up on Wonder Man’s Revengers team.  I also appreciated that Tony and Steve both agreed to leave the New Avengers alone.  It’s bad enough that they gave Luke’s team the mansion and then came and crashed there right after the first big crisis, I don’t think it would go very well if they tried to rearrange his team too.  

Onto the new roster…Welcome to the Avengers Daisy Johnson and…Storm?!  OK I like seeing Daisy (aka Quake) move up in the superhero world and joining the Avengers (it’s like when Cannonball finally got to join the X-men), she’s definitely earned it after all her time with Nick Fury and his Secret Warriors.  Storm as an Avenger, I have to be honest, I am a little less sold on.  I don’t mean to sound separatist but there was a time when there was the Avengers, the Fantastic Four and the X-men.  Cut and dry.  There was there occasional mixing of members (like when Beast joined the Avengers or She-Hulk joined the Fantastic Four) but for the most part they all stayed in their respective teams.  Now we have Wolverine and Thing with the Avengers, Spider-man on the Fantastic Four, Namor with the X-men, and it’s all a huge mess!  With the conclusion of Schism and the division of the X-men, Storm just planted herself firmly on the West Coast with Cyclops’ team and now what?  She’s going to be bi-coastal like Wolverine was for so long?  Also, how will she have time for regular missions with the Avengers if she is going to be leading her own team of X-men over in X-men (Vol. 3)? I know many people will point towards Wolverine and say, “Well it works when he does it”… No it doesn’t!  That doesn’t mean I don’t think she would be a great Avenger, because I think she’s perfect, but I would prefer her to be just leading over in X-men.  I also somewhat question Red Hulk’s fast acceptance into the ranks of the team without question since they don’t know who he really is and they have always been completely distrustful of the original Hulk despite his being a founding member.  Last but not least, the Vision is back!  Now I am a little confused because I thought that the Vision that pals around with the Young Avengers was made from the remains of the destroyed Vision but apparently the remains were just laying around waiting to be fixed...so he’s back.  I’m a bit “whatever” about him though, without Wanda back on the team to make it exciting with him, he’s not really that interesting.

                And what the hell happened with Spider-man and Wolverine?  Spidey is completely right, he and Wolverine should be completely pissed off and offended that they were not only dismissed from the team, but they weren’t even told about it!  They went not even aware that they were being dismissed from the team until they watched the new roster walk out without them.  Now granted they are both still on the New Avengers (although I could have sworn that Spider-man quit before Fear Itself started because of Victoria Hand), and I don’t entirely think the two of them should be Avengers anyway, I would think after everything they have both been through for the Avengers that they both deserved at least a sit down chat with Steve Rogers letting them know that they Avengers contract was not renewed, especially Wolverine since he was replaced by one of his best friends.

                Overall, I hugely approve of the new roster.  It wasn’t a complete overhaul, we kept many of the characters that have been with us since this volume’s beginning, and we added some fun powerful new members with Quake and Storm.  Even with my reservations about Storm and my griping about Spider-man and Wolverine’s release from the team I still think this is going to be a great line-up to follow.  It goes without mentioning that Steve Rogers is back leading the Avengers as Captain America!  Obviously the beginning of a bold new era for this ever-evolving team.

Flash Review - 11/9/11

Battle Scars #1 – Not impressed.   A lot of action and nothing happened.  In a Post-Fear Itself world there are epilogues, fallout and spin-offs abound and with Fear Itself #7.1-7.3, The Fearless, ReGenesis, and everything else going on this issue just didn’t rate very high.  Marcus Johnson is the newest character with a big secret, so big that even he doesn’t know it.  YAWN!  I am sure the writers have something really special in store for him but after one issue it seems like we have the making of an African Punisher or a new Luke Cage (neither of which we need).

Buffy: Season 9 #3 – A little weak but that’s ok.  This series has definitely taken on a tone very like the television series and when it was on TV there was always the occasional slow episode so they are entitled to a slow issue.  They are really taking their time getting into anything too big in this series (which makes me think they have huge things on the horizon) but hopeful to say the least.  The whole male slayer thing was kinda cheap and stupid but they turned it around at the end and made him a BAD male slayer which hey I guess that works.  Next issue seems like it’s going to be cool as hell but this one was a little lacking in the action and story departments.

Fear Itself #7.2: Thor – Um…what?   This was just a regular heartfelt sweet goodbye issue to send Thor to the afterlife after his sacrifice against the Serpent.  At least that’s what I thought it was.  We got to see Jane Foster’s reaction, Sif in mourning, Lil’ Loki missing his brother, Odin step down and the Vanir women appear to take his place.  If they had left it at that it still would have been a great issue, but they took it one step further.  Who is Tanarus!?  And why does everyone already know him as God of Thunder and Avenger?  Nice set up for the upcoming stories in Thor’s book (which appears to be keeping its name).  Oh…and was the Thor’s body floating in the ether and then waking up at the end??  This should be good…

Ghost Rider #5 - What the hell are they doing??  This book is turning into a huge steaming pile of crap.  Where should I even start?  Her bike looks like a chicks bike, not a Ghost Rider’s for starters.  And where did she get all these powers from?? How does she even know she CAN spit locusts and control sandstorms and how does she know how to access them when Johnny couldn’t for all those years?  And just when did it become that Johnny’s Ghost Rider was Zarathos again? I thought that the Ghost Rider power was just inside him and Mephisto used Zarathos to bring it out, why does Alejandra need or have Zarathos?  Her flaming nunchuk weapon is a stupid step down from the flaming chain that Danny Ketch used and needs to go also.  And last but not least, her father is a baby wearing psycho…not nearly as creative as the writers think it is.  Johnny Blaze wasn’t even in the issue and I was bored to tears, not sure what else to say.

Marvel Point One #1 – WOW!  Lots of good stuff happening in here!  First of all, when did Nova come back??  Now, they never say the name Rich Rider so there is always a chance it’s his brother Robbie  but I am pretty sure we’re supposed to think its Rich.  More importantly, PHOENIX!!! OH MY GOD IT’S BACK AND IT’S BLUE!  If I start now I’ll just go on and on about the Phoenix but I will say that it’s about time there was a Phoenix story that involved more than just the X-men.  And who are the X-terminated?  Is Age of Apocalypse really getting its own series??  That’s exciting, not a lot of alternate timelines get the amount of play and coverage that AOA gets and none deserve it more (Days of Future Past is played out like crazy).  Having read the 90’s clone saga, I am a big Kaine fan, but I didn’t know he had returned (I didn’t read Spider-Island)!  I was also a really big Ben Reilly fan (especially as the Scarlet Spider) so seeing Kaine, all healed and not dying, taking up the mantle seems like a really great direction to take the character…as long as they don’t dye his hair blond.  I don’t know I think yet of Coldmoon and Dragonfire (aka Empty Circle) but I am definitely intrigued by these twins and can’t wait to see more of them.  And they are really pushing this new Defenders book lately but I am just not seeing the huge draw.  I know it was a big thing back in the late 70’s and early 80’s but no matter how many promos I see I just don’t have the drive to get into this new (old) team.  And lastly I don’t really know what’s going on in this little Ultron bit but it looks exciting! I can only imagine that it has something to do with the Ultron stuff going on over in the Avengers books lately.  Only time will tell…

New Avengers #18 – Let me say first that any issue where none of the title characters show up is already at a huge disadvantage in my eyes.  That being said, this new team of Dark Avengers blows the last one out of the water!  I am not even sure who half of these characters are and I am absolutely enthralled by this gathering.  My one complaint is that two of the Avengers they are impersonating (Ms. Marvel and Scarelt Witch) are some of the most powerful  members there are and they are being “played” by two people that (as far as I can tell) don’t have any powers of any kind.  I’d like to see how they simulate cosmic manipulation and chaos magic with technology.  I can’t wait to learn more about Gorgon and Barney Barton, but what the hell is Ai Apaec??  Seems like something that monstrous and creepy would have been heard more of before now.  Can’t wait to see what kind of trouble they cause Luke Cage’s crew.

Uncanny X-Force #17 – And the Dark Angel Saga keeps on going!  This has been such a crazy storyline that its almost hard to keep track of it!  Earth-616 and the Age of Apocalypse collide once again as the Amazing X-men come to X-Force’s rescue.  Since we’ve been seeing promos for X-Force with Nightcrawler in it, it’s no surprise that he (and some other familiar) faces showed up as the story approaches its conclusion.  For a Phoenix fanatic like me, it is always a huge treat to see Ms. Grey wielding the Phoenix Force even if it’s from an alternate reality.  This saga has maybe gone on for a little too long but it’s been amazing and I can’t wait to see how it ends.  I suspect that Warren is not going to make it through this one, but I am hoping that I am wrong.

X-men: Legacy #258 – It’s a fun story, but I could take it or leave it.  The best part of this is knowing that Havok Polaris and Rachel are coming back to the fold when it’s over, but other than that it’s just a bit…“whatever”.  The entire bug people vs. the Shi’ar seemed a little weak to begin with in my eyes.  It ended on a hilarious note though, with everything going on up in space it completely slipped everyone’s mind that Alex, Lorna and Rachel have NO idea about Fear Itself or Schism and “there are some briefing sessions need to be had”.

Not Your Average Joe - Review Magneto: Not a Hero #1

Can I just say that I LOVE Magneto lately? When he went all “good guy” I was a little skeptical to say the least.  Like “Didn’t we already do this once before?”  But no we haven’t!  He may be one of the X-men now and dutifully following Cyclops’ orders, but he really isn’t all THAT changed from his super villain days.  It’s not like last time he joined the team and he suddenly became this new and improved good person with feelings and a heart.  NOT EVEN CLOSE.  No he is still a hardcore mutant advocate and borderline human hater, but he is at least willing now to accept that his methods and goals were not working and Cyclops had accomplished (for the most part) what he tried for years to do.  He showed us his disdain for “ordinary humans” in no uncertain terms with the way he dealt with Iron Man in this issue.  “The Invincible Rubber Man” is a classic line from a character not really known for his sense of humor and “I’ve entertained you human long enough” tells us that he really has changes his mindset that much since Asteroid M fell and Genosha was leveled.  But that was far from the only stellar part of this issue.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love X-leader Emma Frost over Hellfire Club White Queen any day of the week, but I never get enough of these issues where we see glimpses of the old Emma.  Whether it’s Danger over in Astonishing X-men or Magneto in this issue, every mutant knows that if you need help with something shady and underhanded (not to mention keep it secret) AND you want the sanction of a high ranking X-man, you go to Ms. Frost for help.  But Magneto was right…the students don’t fear her, they respect her and her experience and her power.  These are all the makings of every hardass teacher (that you probably hated) that ever helped you when you needed it.  And even without her telepathy, there is no getting ANYTHING past her.  Whether it’s a student or its Scott or Magneto, she knows when she’s being buttered up and she’s not interested.   But she’s always up for a glass of wine and some playful banter (at the other person’s expense of course…

And then of course there’s the pay off at the end.  JOSEPH.  I’ll be real honest here…I did NOT see that coming in the slightest!  Forget his deformed “Brotherhood” cronies surrounding him, just the fact that he has returned after almost 15 years is astounding enough.  Now last time around, Magneto was still evil and Joseph, his poor clone, was trying his hardest to be an X-man and atone for, what he thought were, his crimes.  This time I’m not so sure though.  The real Magneto has somewhat mended his ways and now Joseph, by all appearances, is going around murdering people.  Also, and this could just be how it was drawn, Astra didn’t look deformed to me like the rest of the brotherhood was.  Is it possible that she’s also back and in cahoots with Joseph or is she a deformed version of herself like the rest and it just wasn’t as obvious?  There is definitely more to this story then meets the eye but the writers of this ReGenesis spin off have definitely caught my attention with this one.

I know in my reviews I usually have at least one section where I complain about the stuff I didn’t like but I have to say, I loved it all!  From the fighting with Iron Man and Captain America and Iron Man somewhat inappropriate (but hilarious) jokes with each other to Magneto’s Emma-guided tour through the magnetic mindscape this issue was fantastic through and through.

My Weekly Pull List - 11/16/11

There weeks just keep getting smaller and smaller, as much as I loved Fear Itself, it is nice to have some spending money back each week!  Shattered Heroes and ReGenesis collide in Avengers Academy this week! Valkyrie continues her quest in Fearless while ReGenesis keeps on going in New Mutants, X-men (Vol. 3) and Generation Hope!  Also, a team member dies in X-Factor...who will it be?!

Avengers #19

Avengers Academy #22

Fear Itself #7.3 FI

Fear Itself: The Fearless #3

Generation Hope #13 RG

New Mutants #34 RG

X-Factor #227

X-Men #21 RG

FI = Fear Itself

RG = ReGenesis