Category Archives: Comics
Multiple Man Isn’t Really Back
I’ve said this several times on this blog: Multiple Man is my all-time favorite comic book character. And I should be thrilled that he’s back in action. Not only did he have a recent Multiple Man comic all to himself, but he’s in the current Uncanny X-Men storyline.
But here’s the thing: this isn’t really Multiple Man.
The current creators working on the X-Men found a workaround to put a simulacrum in place. And based on this week’s new issue of Uncanny X-Men, they can’t even get that right.
Help him, Apocalypse!
Quick recap: Jamie Madrox died several years ago during the M-Pox storyline, killed by the Inhuman Terrigen Mists. In the recent Multiple Man comic, it was revealed that one of his duplicates had gone into hiding years ago, working on a serum to separate duplicates from Madrox’s umbrella. Then through a series of time traveling hijinks, all of the various Multiple Man duplicates died…except for one. And he took the serum, which somehow granted him the crown of “Jamie Prime”.
For some reason, only Jamie Prime can make duplicates now. Those duplicates can no longer produce their own duplicates.
C’mon Nate, surely you’re aware of my brand new status quo change!
That’s not how Multiple Man’s powers work. So either the current creators don’t know that or it’s a change brought about by this false duplicate “rebirth”. I’ve read everything that the new Madrox has appeared in so far and the change in his powers has never been mentioned, so…
But yeah, his powers are different now, reinforcing the fact that this isn’t really Multiple Man back from the dead. It’s a weird, mutated duplicate simply living as Jamie Madrox.
That stinks.
To make matters even worse, the current creators don’t seem to understand the character at all. They seem really into the idea that Jamie Madrox is an incompetent coward.
And an alcoholic, apparently
Like, it’s mentioned twice in the new Uncanny X-Men #9.
Now they’re just being mean
Where is this coming from? And from Kitty and Storm of all people? Did nobody read the 100+ issue X-Factor series? Jamie Madrox was a team leader, and was a prominent X-Men supporting character for years. He’s never been a coward and he’s never been incompetent. Those aren’t his character traits.
It doesn’t matter in the long run. This is just one guy whining on his blog, and that’s really all I’m doing, whining. I get that. But it’s my blog, it’s my favorite comic book character, and I felt like whining about it. So take all of this with a grain of salt.
Comic books move ever onward. Someday the real Multiple Man will come back from the dead. Cyclops died in the exact same way in the exact same story, and he’s coming back. I’m sure Multiple Man will be back too, eventually.
I’m just gonna be really dorky about it until then.
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Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 1/5/19
Welcome to the first comic reviews of the new year! Huzzah! I’m hoping for a nice big year of fun and adventure, and we definitely start off in that direction, so that’s a plus.
This week delivered a ton of fun new issues, from Action Comics to Uncanny X-Men to Mr. & Mrs. X! Comic Book of the Week goes to Runaways for another delightfully fun issue. This issue is another solid example of why I picked Runaways for my favorite comic of the year from last year.
Is this really how young people dress these days?
Meanwhile, I’m going to spend this weekend getting caught back up on Jason Aaron’s Thor. His War of the Realms Big Event is really picking up steam, and even though I’ve mostly sworn off of Marvel’s Big Event comics, I’m going to give War of the Realms a try. For one thing, it’s the culmination of everything Aaron has been writing for years, almost all of which I’ve enjoyed. And for another thing, it’s not a forced tie-in to any Marvel movies, that I can tell. So I’m going to give it a try!
Comic Reviews: Action Comics #1006, Heroes in Crisis #4, Mr. & Mrs. X #7, Runaways #17, Tony Stark – Iron Man #7, Uncanny X-Men #8 and Wonder Woman #61.
New Year, New Mike Maihack Comic!
Every year, artist Mike Maihack delights us with a new comic strip starring an adorable team up between Batgirl and Supergirl! He skipped Christmas this year and instead delighted us with a New Year’s comic. And I know it’s a few days removed from New Year’s Day, but it’s still close enough for me to share!
Maihack is always reliable! I want to see him get some professional DC Comics work, gosh darnit! Make it happen, universe!
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Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 12/29/18
Welcome to the last comic book reviews of 2018! Considering it’s the week of Christmas, there simply weren’t many comics released this week. Quite strange. But I’m a man who likes to read his comics, so let’s do this anyway!
Hold your horses, Sean! Turns out, you only read two comics this week and lazily skipped over some others. So while Uncanny X-Men was a bit of a bummer, you definitely loved the wedding issue of Fantastic Four! Nuptials for Comic Book of the Week!
Mazel tov!
Meanwhile, I got lazy and skipped the first issues of the new X-Force and Superior Spider-Man comics. I don’t really care about any of the X-Force characters, and I’m disappointed that Otto went back to being Superior Spider-Man instead of his badass new Superior Octopus identity. We’ve got enough Spider-People in comics these days! Did anybody read these issues? Am I missing out?
Comic Reviews: Fantastic Four #5 and Uncanny X-Men #7.
Oh Hey, Stilt-Man is Alive Again!
Comics give and comics take. It’s a vicious cycle of pain and hope. Last week, one of my all-time favorite comic book characters — the Mimic — was killed in the pages of Extermination. I was pretty bummed.
But his death won’t stick, not forever. A good example of that is the fact that the original Stilt-Man, Wilbur Day, was resurrected this week in the pages of Superior Spider-Man! Turns out, he was cloned back to life by the Jackal during Clone Conspiracy, and then was given a new clone body, so he didn’t melt like all the rest.
Otto Octavius is a master of exposition
It’s a bit of a stretch resurrection, and this might also be considered a mere clone of Wilbur Day…but I think I’ll take it. I could use a nice, happy resurrection after last week.
Wilbur Day was killed in the wake of Civil War by the Punisher, way back when. He was then replaced by Lady Stilt-Man, of whom I am the internet’s highest authority. There were also some mooks who took over the identity while Day was dead, who also fought Superior Spider-Man.
And that’s your Stilt-Man history lesson for today! I’m still waiting on that Marvel Legends version. Or LEGO mini-fig.
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