Category Archives: X-Men

A Personal Reminder That Some of My Favorite Obscure X-Men Are Alive and Being Treated Well

I’ve been in a sour comic-reading mood for a couple weeks now because I’m pretty sure the Mimic is going to die. He’s one of my all-time favorite comic book characters and I don’t want him to die. The very minor hope that maybe, when he’s alive, he’ll show up in the background somewhere and have a nice scene or two is a strong hope.

Right now, he’s showing up in Extermination, which continues to tease his potentially imminent demise.

Mimic Extermination 03

Likewise, my all-time favorite comic book character — Multiple Man — is in some weird revival limbo, and might end up being some kind of villain in the new Uncanny X-Men? That is also up in the air, enhancing my sour feelings.

I’m sure we’ve all been there, that we all have a favorite obscure X-character or two. Characters like Wolverine, Storm and Nightcrawler are great, but we all love us a Mimic or Multiple Man or two.

Fortunately, another comic this week had a short story that let me know that some of my other favorite obscure X-Men are alive and well, and if they’re not well, at least they’re getting solid character treatment.

That issue is Domino Annual #1, written by Gail Simone and a bunch of others in an anthology of short stories. One of the stories, written by Leah Williams, with art by Michael Shelfer, features Nightcrawler and Domino starting up a support group for odd-looking mutants. That is a wonderful idea, and I hope Gail Simone keeps the idea going in the regular series.

Among the dozen or so obscure X-characters featured in the support group, we find out that Maggott is not only alive again, but he’s been turned into a hipster.

Maggott Alive 01

I love Maggott! He’s great! Maggott is a perfect example that your mutant isn’t always going to be something as wonderful as a healing factor or all-powerful telepathy. Sometimes your digestive system is turned into a pair of slugs that can eat anything, then transfer the power to you.

It’s good to know Maggott is currently alive in continuity.

We also get a great scene featuring Stacy X, another favorite of mine. She still doesn’t have her powers following M-Day (even though most mutants have gotten their powers back), and that is really torturing Stacy.

Stacy X Alive 01

It sucks that she’s feeling suicidal, but that is still some great character growth. And Gail Simone, if you want me to start really loving your Domino comic, which I already kind of enjoy? Feature more Stacy X struggling with depression, caused by the loss of her powers! And maybe give her her powers back? Beak is featured in this issue too, and he lost his powers the same way as Stacy X, but he has them back.

Basically, what I’m saying is: bring back Stacy X!

And don’t kill the Mimic!

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Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 9/22/18

Is anybody reading all the weird stuff that’s going on with Venom these days? I understand it’s some noteworthy stuff, and it’s getting a lot of buzz on these here internets, but I can’t bring myself to care — and the movie is only two weeks away! Would anybody mind letting me know in the comments if it’s been worthwhile or not? Thanks!

I’ve mostly been sticking with comics I already love and adore, which is great for my general well being! Tom King on both Mister Miracle and Batman? Yes, please! Kelly Thompson on both Mr. and Mrs. X and West Coast Avengers? You’re damn right!

Mister Miracle wins Comic Book of the Week as we dive headfirst into the climax of one of the biggest, craziest comics of the year!

Darkseid Carrot 01

Crazy with a capital “C”!

Meanwhile, I am completely ignoring the Return of Wolverine and the Infinity Warps stuff. Part of me knows they’re probably OK, and I’m sure the creative teams are great, but I have had my fill of Marvel’s attempts to either force Big Event comics to tie into recent movies, or deluge us with bringing Wolverine back, even though they made sure he wasn’t really gone anyway. There’s already been, like, several dozen different comics about Wolverine’s return. Just bring him back already, jeez louise! I can’t imagine there is anybody out there who is chomping at the bit to have regular Wolverine back so badly.

Speaking of which, I passed on the new issue of Thor because of its Wolverine indulgence. Hopefully I get caught back up on Thor soon…

Comic Reviews: Batman #55, Mister Miracle #11, Mr. & Mrs. X #3, Multiple Man #4 and West Coast Avengers #2.

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Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 9/15/18

In-freaking-sane! That’s the only way to describe this week in comics! Apparently Marvel heard how light things had been the past two weeks, so they released eight comics on my read pile this week! And that’s not even counting the couple of DC Comics this week that I’m reading! Oy vey!

Thankfully, there were a ton of great comics this week, from Runaways to Squirrel Girl to Ms. Marvel to Domino! A real standout is the returned Iceman comic by Sina Grace, but I’m afraid the new issue of Fantastic Four is just a touch better, and Fantastic Four wins Comic Book of the Week!

FF Reed Sue Happy 01

Why couldn’t you all let them be happy?

But Iceman was still really good. I’m very excited to have that comic back! Though hopefully Marvel doesn’t drop so many of my favorite comics in the same week anymore.

Comic Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man #5, Catwoman #3, Domino #6, Fantastic Four #2, Iceman #1, Ms. Marvel #34, Runaways #13, Superman #3, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #36 and X-23 #4. 

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Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 9/1/18

Welcome to a surprise women’s week in comic book review land! It’s a Fifth Wednesday, so there wasn’t much to choose from this week. But it just so happens that three of my favorite comics came out this week: Ms. Marvel, Runaways and X-23. And it just so happens that all three comics not only star mostly female main casts, but all three are also written by women! That’s pretty darn neat, if I do say so myself!

Rainbow Rowell’s Runaways wins Comic Book of the Week, beating out the grand finale of Power Rangers: Shattered Grid. Sorry to all Power Rangers fans.

Runaways Move In 01

That’s a big responsibility

Meanwhile, for anyone curious, we don’t yet know the fate of the Mimic in the Extermination mini-series. But there’s no way that the universe keeps one of my all-time favorite obscure comic book characters alive now that he’s been dragged out of comic book limbo. His revival from totally obscure to slightly less obscure and totally badass is probably at an end.

Comic Reviews: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers – Shattered Grid #1, Ms. Marvel #33, Runaways #12 and X-23 #3.

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Strong Guy Watch: An Even Bigger Beard!

I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is that Strong Guy isn’t dead. The final issue of New Mutants – Dead Souls came out this week, and Strong Guy is still alive!

The bad news is he spent several years in Hell, so he’s been abnormally aged. But he’s now got a badass long beard.

Strong Guy Beard 04

Now he’s an ancient karate master

The bad news is also that the issue ends with Strong Guy and most of the New Mutants being taken over by some new evil version of Warlock. I think?

Strong Guy Beard 05

Resistance is futile

I dunno. It’s a weird place to end a mini-series, since I don’t think the continuation of this story has been announced anywhere. So I’m not entirely sure what happens next.

The good thing is, though, that Strong Guy is still alive. So to speak. That’s mostly what I care about.

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