Category Archives: X-Men
Review: Avengers vs. X-Men #7
Ugh. Talk about a complete 180-degree turn from the previous issue. Whereas in #6 we actually had some characters debating the merits of this Phoenix-fueled conflict, Avengers vs. X-Men #7 launches straight into a convoluted fight scene, then follows up with page after page of incomprehensible science mumbo jumbo. Plus, I need to stop kidding myself, because Marvel have clearly established the X-Men as the villains of this piece. Now I have no one to root for. Captain America and the Avengers have come off as pig-headed bullies who refuse to even entertain the idea that the X-Men might be right. But because of the nature of the story, the X-Men are most definitely wrong.
Avengers vs. X-Men #7
Which means the pig-headed bullies get to be right by default. And without any moment of compromise or even trying to see the conflict through their opponent’s eyes, Captain American and Wolverine just get to gloat about how they’re awesome, and how Cyclops and the X-Men should have just accepted life under their boot heel.
Comic rating: 3/5: Alright.
I’m not just basing my score on the fact that the team I’ve backed for this entire conflict is being turned into the obvious villains. Even as Marvel tries to keep Cyclops’ intentions pure, the rest of the PhoeniX-Men are turning against him. There’s a scene at the end of the issue between Namor and Emma Frost that makes my blood boil, and if Marvel is really going that route, then shame on them. But the real problem with this issue is that the writing is just dull after last issue’s exciting chapter. The fight scene to start this issue is just a lot of flashy powers and shouting. Then we get several pages of conversation where the Avengers talk nonsense about the powers of the PhoeniX-Five and the Scarlet Witch, as if we the readers or they the writers have any idea how to quantify such cosmically-scaled powers.
And then several pages are wasted on the most idiotic of ruses where we learn that the PhoeniX-Men fear even the mere presence of the Scarlet Witch. But the ruse lasts only a handful of panels, so what was even the point of using it? For page padding? And the cliffhanger to end the issue couldn’t be more boring. Not in the sense that it’s actually ho-hum boring, but in that it promises nothing we haven’t seen before in this series. I’m actually a little surprised that the issue ended where it did considering it’s just another fight.
Continue after the jump for a full synopsis and more review.
Uncanny Avengers Preview!
Behold a bold new era in comic book covers!
Great, now I gotta turn the comic on its side to read the title
That is the cover for Uncanny Avengers #1 coming out this October. It’s the first issue in the new Marvel NOW! relaunch coming this fall. I wrote about this new thingymabob earlier this week, and I felt it was time to catch everybody up on the specific news that was revealed.
Basically, Marvel is trying out some new directions and stories in the wake of Avengers vs. X-Men. My theory that it looks like the Avengers and X-Men will start blending together looks pretty realistic. The plan is to release a new #1 issue a week for five straight months, kicking off several new comic book series while also just relaunching some classics. First up we have the new Uncanny Avengers by Rick Remender and John Cassaday. You can read more about it here.
Of the series, Marvel guru Tom Brevoort had this to say:
“There are characters who are huge characters, who have been around for decades, and are beloved, that you really haven’t seen interact in a meaningful way with one another. This is a place where a lot of that will get to play out. There are not a lot of stories where Captain America and Havok interact in a meaningful way. So Uncanny Avengers will be a place where that sort of thing can happen.”
I am completely on board with this. I don’t think Havok and Captain America have ever even said ‘hello’ to each other. So I like the mindset behind this relaunch. Try out some new characters together, tell some new stories. I am totally sold!
I also like the new cover. In another interview I read, Marvel has decided that since a lot of people get their comics over the Internet, they don’t need to have the title at the top of the cover, like classic comics. They’re going to experiment a little. I also like this idea. That comic looks neat. Though I still get my comics directly from the comic book store, so hopefully I’ll still be able to find the new comics on the shelves.
Now let’s take a closer look at that big promo image for Marvel NOW! that I ran the other day.
This should be one single superhero team
We’ve got a ton of new costumes, which are always cool. I like Captain America’s new movie-inspired costume. And it looks like Cyclops might be alive at the end of Avengers vs. X-Men after all! Although with a red costume and an ‘X’ on his face instead of his classic horizontal line visor, he might become a bad guy. Or maybe that’s not the normal Cyclops at all. Who knows!? We’ll find out this fall.
Among the other new series we’ll be getting, Captain America, Iron Man and Thor will be getting brand new #1 issues. As will The Avengers, by writer John Hickman, which is said to start somewhere around 18 different characters. It’s going to be a big Avengers book.
There’s also going to be a new X-Men title by Brian Michael Bendis, which will feature the original five X-Men coming to the future/present day and being unhappy in what they find. This sounds like a dumb idea to me. You’ve got Bendis writing the X-Men…and you put him on some crazy time travel story? Why waste that talent?
Anyway, I’ll try to keep everyone abreast of all the other new Marvel titles coming out! So stay tuned!
Something Big is Happening at Marvel Comics
The Marvel Comics Universe that we all know and love…isn’t going anywhere. There isn’t doing to be a big, DC-style reboot. But hints and rumors over the past few months seem to at least be pointing towards a fresh coat of paint. Some of Marvel’s most popular writers and artists are going to be switching to different books, many of which are probably going to get shiny, new #1 issues. The rumors also point towards new teams, new lineups and new motivations for our favorite characters.
You know, like the last dozen or so times they’ve done such a thing
The characters aren’t going to be rebooted wholesale – like DC Comics did in 2011 – but it seems that Marvel is at least relaunching their line in a new direction. Possibly called ‘Marvel Now’.
More information is expected to be released at the San Diego Comic-Con next week. But I want to do a little speculating before we know for sure, because I have a theory about what’s going to happen, and I’d like to see if I’m right. Plus I’d like to hear what some of you guys think about the possible changes before we’re actually drowning in those very change. Right now everything is just rumor and speculation. All of which you can read about after the jump!
Review: X-Factor #238
Last issue was a wonderful character-based story where a several members of X-Factor let their hair down, had a good time and settled the darkest demons of their soul. It was great. This issue is very similar, being an entirely character-based story which sees the members of X-Factor acting and interacting like real people instead of superheroes. While definitely a good read, this issue lacks the spark of energy and excitement that the last issue had.
X-Factory #238
Still, any issue where Multiple Man and Strong Guy banter about getting special jackets for their ‘Deathbeaters’ club is a good issue to me!
Comic rating: 4/5: Good!
This is more of a transition issue than anything else, moving characters around to continue with the various stories being told. I wouldn’t say the issue suffers from being a transition issue, it mostly just suffers from mediocre writing and less-than-stellar art. Basically, all of the various members of X-Factor bump into each other and have little chats about what they’re up to and what stories they’re a part of, not all of which are connected. They make jokes, there is some humor, but mostly it’s just light, standard chatter. This issue is another example of why the cast of this book is just too big. With so many people making appearances, they only get a few panels and a few lines to make an impression. It doesn’t work for all of them.
Unfortunately, the art also takes a step back this week with new artist Paul Davidson. The characters are OK, and you can tell them apart thanks to their costumes, but it just looks a little amateurish. The art is just not very good.
Join me after the jump for a full synopsis and more!
Review: Avengers vs. X-Men #6
Following up on last issue’s epic cliffhanger, Avengers vs. X-Men #6 does not disappoint when it comes to scale. Gone is the petty back and forth between the Avengers and the X-Men, replaced by much bigger and better things. Unfortunately, this also looks to be the issue where the story starts to get regrettably predictable. I still have faith that this series will be able to surprise me down the line. But I think it’s obvious to everyone where the story is headed from here on out. Marvel has definitely taken sides over who is right and who is wrong in this battle.
Avengers vs. X-Men #6
Of course, I’m still going to side with the X-Men! Down with the murderous traitor Wolverine and the bull-headed warmonger Captain America!
Comic rating: 5/5: Great.
I have always loved the work of artist Olivier Coipel, and to see him take over the series is a delight. His characters are fantastic, the details are stellar, and the man can draw epic scale like none other. You really get a feel for just how huge this story has become. If only Marvel had been able to organize their entire comic universe to match this story, it would feel stronger. There’d be a lot of other problems to contend with, but at least this story would have the proper weight behind it. Instead, we’re just going to have to deal with Avengers vs. X-Men on its own, and that’s good enough.
But like I said, unless Marvel has some insane sort of awesomeness planned, there’s only one way this story is going to end. And that way sucks.
How do I think it’s going to end? Find out after the jump!
Henchman-4-Hire 