Category Archives: Multiple Man
6 Other Multiple Men (and Women)
If nothing else, my blog is a place where I can talk endlessly (even if it’s just to myself) about my favorite superheroes. I know I talk a lot about comics in general, and even sometimes about movies, TV shows and video games. But gosh darn it, I talk about Multiple Man so much that he’s even got his own category. And I bet there’s a good chance that a lot of the people reading my blog have never even heard of Multiple Man! It’s not like he’s on the Avengers. Or even on the X-Men. But Multiple Man is real and he’s my favorite superhero. I even liked him in his 10-second cameo in X-Men: The Last Stand. He was the only good part of that movie.
He’s the best thing in everything he’s in
Multiple Man is Jamie Madrox, a mutant born with the ability to create duplicates of himself. Ever wanted to be in 10 places at once to get all your errands done? Multiple Man can do that. It’s his super power. Madrox has had a semi-long career on the outskirts of the X-Men franchise, never quite joining the team, but always somewhere in the background. Most prominently, he is the longtime star of the X-Factor comic series, and has been headlining the book now for nearly 100 issues. So I’m a happy fan. And to celebrate Madrox’s awesomeness, this week’s blog list is a look at 6 other characters from pop culture who share his rather unique super power.
I realize this is kind of a crummy list this week – unless you’re a Multiple Man fan – but don’t worry, I’m gonna make up for it next week!
Review: X-Factor #247
It’s Multiple Man versus the zombie of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. How can you not love comics? Where else in the world of fiction are you going to get the Highlander done with Abraham Lincoln impersonators? Or Multiple Man being this cool? The Breaking Points story may be over, but writer Peter David is still focused on character-centric issues, this time giving Jamie Madrox and his gal Layla a chance to shine – while moving his larger story forward at a snail’s pace.
X-Factor #247
Still, if you’re looking for an awesome Multiple Man hero story, there are worse places to look. It’s always fun to see my favorite superhero being this cool.
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
This is a very fun comic that kind of spins off into a weird, yet entertaining, lunacy. It also has an unfortunate habit of trying to tie its tale of resurrected Confederate soldiers into the deaths/rebirths of superheroes, adding an unnecessary weight around its neck. We get it, superheroes tend to return from the dead a lot. Commenting on that fact does not count as a joke or even criticism, especially when X-Factor has done it twice now. Why couldn’t Confederate soldier zombies exist on their own terms? Why tie it to that annoying ‘nobody stays dead in comics’ issue? Really deflates the menace of Zombie Robert E. Lee.
But if you’re willing to look past that nit pick, this is an otherwise really fun issue. Jamie and Layla are a cool couple, with great timing between them. They have a really good chemistry, is what I’m trying to say, and it’s really on display in this issue. Likewise, Madrox in general is in fine form. He’s all superheroic and leading man, exactly how I like him. There’s also a nice bit of comedy sprinkled throughout, just like with every issue of X-Factor. It’s Multiple Man vs. Zombie Robert E. Lee, people! What more do I need to say?
Join me after the jump for more!
Review: X-Factor #245
This is an absolute perfect issue of X-Factor. This kind of issue is exactly why I love this series so much, and why Peter David continues to be one of the most popular writers in comics. His work with the characters in this issue is a masterstroke of humor, camaraderie and the general fun of having friends, through good and bad. Breaking Points has been an up and down story so far as David cleans house, but he wraps it up with style and happiness. I am very, very excited to see what comes next for X-Factor.
X-Factor #245
It also helps that this issue seems to read my mind and give Polaris a new, more modern costume!
Comic rating: 5/5: Great.
I feel kind of guilty grading this comic with a perfect score. Like I said, it’s a perfect issue of X-Factor, as long as you love the same X-Factor that I love. This is a talking heads issue, with no superhero fights or really much action of any kind. It’s just this cast of characters butting heads, talking through their feelings and making some legitimately funny jokes. This issue is seriously funny. When Peter David really gets going on the talking heads issues, something about them just triggers his funny bone. This is a great issue of X-Factor, a great example of what makes this comic so much fun and just an all around pleasure to have in front of you. So why do I feel kind of guilty?
Because I think X-Factor has run its course. At least under Peter David.
This sounds like blasphemy, but it’s true. These characters all feel kind of stuck in a rut. All of these big changes that have been happening feel only skin deep. I just don’t feel a deep, emotional connection to these characters like I used to. Or maybe it’s just me. I’ve said this before, and I fear it still stands: Peter David has gotten complacent on X-Factor. So hopefully this new direction and reduced cast will shake things up a bit.
Though Heaven help Marvel if they ever cancel this book or change it in any significant way! I’m a comic book geek, I hate change but embrace creativity! Grrr!
This May Not Mean Much to Most People, but There’s Going to be a New Stilt-Man!
Sometimes I try to be objective when it comes to reporting pop culture news. As in, I try to tell you guys about as much cool stuff coming up as I can. But then sometimes it gets really personal, and I write up an entry like this one that deals almost exclusively with my own personal love.
Stilt-Man being one of them.
They’re also pushing the new Superior Spider-Man, but we should all just ignore him until he goes away
There’s going to be a new Stilt-Man introduced in the pages of Daredevil in January. As I’m sure you remember, I once wrote an article about Lady Stilt-Man, and she’s actually made several more appearances since I wrote that article. Good for her. But now a new Stilt-Man is coming back! We all remember how the original Stilt-Man, Wilbur Day, was killed by the Punisher in the wake of Civil War. So I don’t know who the new Stilt-Man is going to be. Heck, considering this is comics, it could be Wilbur Day back from the dead!
Whoever straps on those big, metal stilts, it appears that they’re going to get a technological upgrade from Doctor Octopus. Because why the hell not? Nobody ever said that super-villains couldn’t share technology. I’ve always thought Doctor Octopus should have added some Shocker gauntlets to the end of his tentacles.
Also in January comic book news, X-Factor is going to start an epic story called the Hell on Earth War. Supposedly, all of the demons in Hell are getting all excited about the birth of the 7th billion human, for some reason. And they’re going to go to war over it. What X-Factor has to do with this, I haven’t the foggiest. But I’m a huge X-Factor fan, so I’m not about to miss this.
I love it when Multiple Man is badass. The duster helps
Also, apparently, writer Peter David started planting the seeds for this storyline back when he wrote Incredible Hulk in the 90s. That he’s now able to go through with the story is a clear indication of why comic books are awesome.
Review: X-Factor #244
It’s Banshee’s turn at the plate in Breaking Points, and she knocks it out of the park with a touching, personal look at her character. The mysterious ‘guest’ she’s been hiding the past few issues is revealed, and by the end of the issue, her status quo is changed in a very significant way. It’s a sad change, but still cool in its way. Part of me thinks it’s a little too easy, and a little too apropos of nothing, but it definitely works. Throw in some good art and some strong appearances by the rest of the cast and you’ve got yourself a very nice issue of X-Factor.
X-Factor #244
Who could ask for anything more?
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
For the most part, writer Peter David has been doing an acceptable job of cleaning house in X-Factor. I know that X-Factor is going to remain relatively untouched in Marvel NOW!, but that doesn’t mean he might not give it a fresh coat of paint or something. Ditching a few members of the bloated cast is a great idea, in my opinion, and he’s been doing a fine job in figuring out what to do with these guys. PAD takes a strong, hard look at Banshee in this issue, and the emotions that drive her, but he does so with a character he created only a few issues ago, a character that doesn’t have the history or the impact to be such a big deal in Banshee’s life, in my opinion. But it works. PAD shakes things up, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
PAD also manages to work his magic with Havok and Polaris, two characters who have definitely suffered from being suddenly, unceremoniously dropped into this comic. There are some continuity conflicts with Avengers vs. X-Men, but who cares? I’m curious to see if PAD will play any part in preparing Havok for his upcoming leadership position in Uncanny Avengers. He seems to be doing a nice job of preparing Polaris for her stay in X-Factor.
But more on that later. Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more review!
