Category Archives: Marvel
Review: X-Factor #242
The deck clearing continues in X-Factor #242, as writer Peter David removes a few characters, settles several dangling plotlines and offers at least one little hint about future strangeness. It’s an entertaining issue, with more than a couple funny lines, but you’d be hard pressed to find a more by-the-numbers issue. I don’t mean that to be cruel, but look no further than the fact that this issue stars Darwin of all characters to see just how unimportant and workmanlike this is in the grand scheme of things.
X-Factor #242
Darwin is the red-headed step child of the X-Men franchise. And being rechristened as a demon-hunter is either the most brilliant or the stupidest choice possible for the character.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good.
Like I said, it’s a good issue. The story is solid, the characters are themselves and it’s funny in places. The art by Leonard Kirk is also great, as usual. It’s just the fact that PAD is taking care of business is evident on every page. He’s got some plans for the new Marvel NOW! relaunch, which involves a smaller cast for X-Factor and new stories. So this issue, and this Breaking Points storyline, are all about removing characters as safely and calmly as possible. He’s also tying up dangling plot threads that I don’t think anybody particularly cares about anymore, and he’s doing it as quickly and as cleanly as he can.
For longtime X-Factor fans like me, it’s a fine enough issue. No major complaints. Other than that, it’s not much of anything. Unless you’re a huge Darwin fan. Or are excited to see Wolfsbane as a mom.
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
Review: Avengers vs. X-Men #10
In order to enjoy the rest of Avengers vs. X-Men, I’m just going to have to accept that Cyclops is evil now. Despite everything he has ever done or said in this comic, despite all the good he has done around the world with the Phoenix powers, despite never having done a single evil thing at all in this series, I’m just going to have to bow down to Avengers’ peer pressure and accept that Cyclops is the bad guy. Heck, they come right out and just tell me that he’s evil several times in this comic. So why not believe the Avengers? It’s not like they brought this on themselves or anything.
Avengers vs. X-Men #10
If you’re willing to accept that Cyclops is evil, this is a good comic with some kickass moments as the Avengers fight for their lives against a god-like force. If, like me, you’re not willing to accept that Cyclops is evil, this is yet another issue where characters just say that he’s the bad guy while trying to kill him, as if they can convince him of his new badness.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good.
Despite my continued frustrations with Cyclops’ heroism, this is still a good issue, and Avengers vs. X-Men is still a good series. And if I read the comic how I want to read it, with Cyclops as the hero, it’s also a good issue. The battle in this issue is pretty awesome, with some truly great comic moments as the Avengers and Hope take on Phoenix Cyclops in the mystical city of kung fu. Meanwhile, Emma Frost really has become evil due to the Phoenix, and she’s off in the wings becoming what will probably be the ‘final boss’ of Avengers vs. X-Men. And after this issue, I’m legitimately excited to see what side Cyclops will pick in the final battle.
Will he live up to my continued endorsement of his heroism? Or will the Avengers be right when they compare Cyclops to a certain World War 2 villain? Either way, he’s pretty dangerous in this issue, that’s for sure. I wish Avengers vs. X-Men would have spent some time in Cyclops’ head, showing us his motivations and reasons for doing what he’s doing. Instead, we don’t get any of that here. No characters take center stage to help us understand the events. It’s mostly all action. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just the issues with a focal character have usually been stronger.
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
Daredevil Could Have Been Gangsta
So it looks like the film rights to Daredevil will revert back to Marvel/Disney in October. There had been some talk about Marvel and Fox trading Galactus for an extension on the film rights, but I didn’t report on it because I considered it just boring Hollywood talk. And obviously it didn’t pan out anyway. This new wrinkle in the Daredevil rights saga, however, has been confirmed by the (now former) new director, Joe Carnahan.
I actually liked Ben Affleck’s Daredevil, especially the director’s cut
I don’t really know what this might mean for the Marvel Movieverse. Marvel and Disney already have a pretty full slate of movies planned all the way through 2015. Would they try and squeeze a new Daredevil flick in there just because they can? I would hope they hold on to Daredevil for awhile until they know exactly what to do with him – and I hope that doesn’t mean he joins the Avengers.
Anyways, Carnahan is apparently a man who loves his fans, and so he’s posted online two sizzle reels for what his take on Daredevil would have been like. They appear to be pseudo-trailers using old footage and comic book panels to try and create the feel of a bombastic 1970s-style thriller.
Here is the general audience sizzle reel:
And here is the grittier, more violent NC-17 version:
Avengers vs. X-Men vs. Fantastic Four?
Anyone who’s been reading my Avengers vs. X-Men reviews knows that I have a few problems with the story. Mostly it’s the fact that the PhoeniX-Men were immediately painted as the villains, even though the comic itself told us that they were doing good in the world. They were feeding the hungry, bringing water to thirsty nations and ending war. But the comic seemed to take the Avengers’ standpoint in that they were automatically evil just because. It was frustrating.
But fortunately, it seems that someone at Marvel had the exact same thoughts as me – and he just so happens to be the smartest man in the Marvel Universe!
The recent tie-in issue, New Avengers #29, shows us what Reed Richards, leader of the Fantastic Four, thinks of the whole Avengers vs. X-Men thing.
Thank you, Reed! Leave it to a super-intelligent person to point out the major problem with Avengers vs. X-Men. Why did this have to happen in one of the tie-ins? Why did this even have to be a thing at all? This scene happened prior to Namor attacking Wakanda and the PhoeniX-Men coming off as evil. But why didn’t Marvel just make them evil right away? Why make them world saviors and turn Captain America and Iron Man into bitter losers who can’t admit that they were wrong?
The entire conflict of Avengers vs. X-Men continued because, as Reed said, the Avengers just kept poking the PhoeniX-Men with a stick. If the PhoeniX-Men were evil from the get-go, then the Avengers would actually be heroic to continue fighting them.
Instead, they’re just a bunch of whiners.
Congratulations Legion Fans
Are you a fan of Legion, the erstwhile son of Professor X who happens to be crazy? Then you’re in luck! Legion is going to get his own series as part of the Marvel NOW! relaunch, he’ll be taking over the X-Men: Legacy series from Rogue. For once, the title of this comic actually makes sense, seeing as how Legion is Professor X’s son.
You can read more about the series here.
Personally, I don’t care about the character in the slightest, so I won’t be picking up the title. However, considering one of my favorite X-Men is the Mimic, I can’t exactly blame anyone for loving Legion. I’m sure he has his fans somewhere…though I doubt he has enough to support his own ongoing series. I don’t think writer Si Spurrier is much of a draw either. Cool cover, at least.
To round out the rest of the Marvel NOW! titles, we have Rick Remender on the new Captain America, along with artist John Romita Jr. Both are very good, so I’m a little tempted to pick up this series…except that Cap continues to piss me off in Avengers vs. X-Men. So I dunno.
And lastly, we have Kelley Sue DeConnick writing Avengers Assemble. I’m a fan of DeConnick’s work on the new Captain Marvel series. And my friend Katie is a huge fan. Though I don’t know if it’s enough to get me to pick up Avengers Assemble. The title was put together to be as close to The Avengers movie as possible while still being part of the normal Marvel Universe. So basically writer Brian Michael Bendis is telling a story where the movie Avengers team up, but in the normal Marvel Universe, not the Movieverse. It’s a fine idea, having a comic similar to the movie for potential new fans, but according to the Internet, the series isn’t very good. So I haven’t bothered with it.
And based on the cover, it doesn’t even look like she’s going to be sticking to the Movieverse team roster. Does this mean it’ll just be another ordinary Avengers comic? Sadly, count me out on this way.
The Hulk looks kind of weird too
So what do you guys think of the various new Marvel NOW! comics announced this week? My favorite continues to be the new FF starring Ant-Man. But I may pick up Indestructible Hulk and Iron Man. How about you? Let me know in the comments!
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