X-Men Gold #20

THE NEGATIVE ZONE WAR pt V

Ken Lashley cover... Too bad he can't do the rest of the book.

Written by Marc Guggenheim
Penciled by Diego Bernard
Cover by Ken Lashley
Published Jan 17, 2018

   After crash landing their ship, Storm finds herself stranded and alone fighting a monster. Ink dangles upside down before falling with a thud. He finds an impaled Nightcrawler and pulls him off a spike. In another section of the ship, Logan and Armor plan to find the others while Kitty phases a very injured Colossus through the sandstorm.

Don't worry. I can do this forever.

   Storm is at a disadvantage without her powers but is finally able to stab the beast with a convenient spear. Ink heals Kurt, and are later reacquainted with Armor and Logan. In the sand, Pete tells Kitty to leave him, passing out. The others look through the wreckage and Ink has an idea.

I have a plan.

   Back in the sand, Kitty has an emotional outburst at the possible death of Colossus when Storm walks up to her. Together they drag the very injured Russian to where Storm thinks the ship might be.

You didn't see me crying, did you?!

   Luckily in the engine room, the group finds a portal generator thanks to Kurt's extremely convenient Dartayan ship knowledge.. Ink senses nearby life and scrambles to help the three others into the ship. Now all Nightcrawler needs is some of Storm's lightning to fire up the portal generator. They literally cheerlead her for like 2 panels and she's able to make it happen.

"I can't do it."
"Yes you can!"
"Oh wait - I did it."

   The issue wraps with the crew back home and rebuilding the mansion. A completely healed Pete gives Kitty a hard time for not leaving him. She realizes she's never gonna leave him period and proposes as he looks down at her, stunned? Will he say yes? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

Remember 2 days ago when you were dead?

   This isn't a very good comic book and it frustrates me to no end. I can't figure out what the angle is supposed to be, and I'm beginning to think Marc Guggenheim thinks if he just packs non-stop action into a rather poorly drawn book, nobody will notice. Well... we do. With X-Men Red on the horizon, I'm bracing with this title to drop one more spot on the X-list. Guess there's only one way to find out. I give this one a 5/10.

Lucky it's a Five, to be honest.

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Star Wars #42

THE ASHES OF JEDHA pt V

Written by Kieron Gillen
Penciled by Salvador Larroca
Cover by David Marquez
Published Jan 17, 2018.

   Thanks to Chewbacca, Princess Leia breaks down the plans from the Leviathan. A small team will go aboard it to power down air defenses, making way for a larger one later. Meanwhile, Luke talks to Ubin about the loss of Chulco, later heaping praise on Rogue One when Leia walks in. They talk and settle on the fact that heroism often comes from hoping something will work.

Hope.

   Later they land on top of the crawler and cut themselves in. On the bridge, Commander Kanchan is informed of the Partisan's upcoming raid. They respond by firing on Han and what was supposed to be the second team when Benthic is wounded.

Did that hurt?

   Back aboard the Leviathan, Luke prepares to storm the bridge, later debating with Leia about her staying with the droids. Meanwhile back on the Falcon, Han tells Chewie that he doubts Ubin's ability to lead. He apparently agrees and Han addresses the crew as the new captain. Later recapping the story, Han gets a big old wookie hug.

What a wookie!

   On the bridge, Kanchar gives the order to shoot down the newly detected Millennium Falcon. Luke has other plans, but with lightsaber in hand, the commander plans to put him to the test. It gives Han time to land though, and though coming under Imperial fire, they fight back.

Try?! Do or do not....

   The issue wraps with Leia watching Han fight on one of the monitors. Though it looks like he has the upperhand, the distraction is enough for Trios to sneak up on her. What will happen next? We'll have to wait ti find out as this issue is left to be continued.

Oh.. I didn't see you there.

   So while this series has really been on a roll, it seems like maybe five parts of the Ashes of Jedha is starting to hit a skid. While I'm usually not one to complain about a monthly book, it's tough to go on long arcs that span so much time. I'm still hanging on... but lets hope part six is the conclusion. I give this one a 7/10.

It's time to wind this one down, guys.

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Justice League #37

THE PEOPLE VS JUSTICE LEAGUE PT iv: THE FAN

Written by Christopher Priest
Penciled by Philippe Briones
Cover by Pete Woods
Published Jan 17, 2018

   As the Justice League takes heat from all angles, we learn about their biggest fan. He talks about his buddy Diesel who was once saved by the League. Later they saved him too, and he went on to serve in the military. But today he's kidnapped Simon Baz. Critical of there being too many lanterns, he's managed to get the ring off Baz's finger.

Pretty good shape for a smoker.

   Meanwhile Jessica gives Batman an earful for sending Baz into danger dressed as Bruce. While that's going on, Regina Cole appears on the Roland Knox program defending the Justice League. Back in St Louis, Jessica walks into the bar that Cyborg tracked their latest subject to. She find a a note and the building explodes - destroying the evidence of his being there but not before Jess got a snapshot of the crime scene.

Batman must have something against the Lanterns too.

   At the Fan's apartment, he explains to Baz his goal is to drain his ring to rid the world of more Lanterns. While on the Watchtower, Simon reflects on his ability to one day lead the team. He's interrupted by news that the perpetrator has infiltrated their systems while Flash's assistance hurts more than it helps. 

Flash screws it all up again.

   Baz finally overpowers the inhibitor, but as he tries to put the ring back on, realizes it was never off his finger to begin with. He takes to the air informing the League of the guy's intentions, while the fan lands on Knox's set dressed as another Green Lantern. His shot is deflected by Wonder Woman in disguise, later seeing Aquaman, Batman, and Jessica on set as well. But just as they figure out what's going on, he begins to beam them out. What will happen next? We'll have to wait for what’s next as this issue is left to be continued.

BYEEEEEE!!

   I don’t think it’s any surprise that I’m completely enamored with Priest’s writing here. For what seems like forever, this book has been playing it safe... Not being at all edgy and taking no chances. It’s no doubt that it was ripe for some changes and what a change it’s been. The Fan is going to be an interesting foe for this team and I can’t wait to see how he wraps it up. I give this one a 9/10.

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The Mighty Thor #703

THE FALL OF ASGARD

Written by Jason Aaron
Penciled by Russell Dauterman
Cover by Russell Dauterman
Published Jan 17, 2018

  A very sick Jane Foster and Senator Roz Solomon fly above New York when the doctor senses something's wrong. She vanishes with the thunder, a noise that both Falcon and Doctor Steven Strange hear as well. It's a short lived transformation, and when she awakens next. she's in a hospital bed.

Hey look, guys. I'm Thor! Nevermind. I'm in the hospital...

   Roz called in the Calvary, and as Odinson, Dr Strange and Falcon explain, her health has reached a tipping point. Meanwhile, the Mangog battles Heimdall, shattering his blade and seemingly impaling him on it. As Cul calls for the Bifrost, Mangog shatters it - calling all of Asgard to battle.

HEY! THAT'S BREAKABLE! 

   Back in the hospital, Dr. Strange explains to her that turning into Thor has stopped any progress of battling her cancer. Suddenly Mjolnir flies in the window. Odinson curses it but Jane hears it's calling. The Mangog has come.

Hammer! Beat it!

   In Asgard, Freya demands use of the Destroyer armor, and while the Mangog calls for Odin, she sends it into battle against the monster. Back in the hospital, Odinson punches the hammer but Jane heeds it's call. She's warned repeatedly. Changing into Thor will probably kill her this time. While she mulls her chances, the Mangog tears the Destroyer armor apart.

Oh DAMN!!

   He calls for Odin while Jane again debates her fate. The issue wraps with Odin wishing he'd gotten to see his son one last time... an opportunity he gets as the two of them finally stand before the Mangog while Jane lays wearily in the hospital bed. What will happen next? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.
   So as we get through one more book, it's a little sad to know we're that much closer to Jane Foster's demise. Like I've said before, cancer is an unjust subject and in this series, a confusing mixture of real world and mythology, although honestly that's pretty much what a comic book is. I know I'm not the only one rooting for remission for our favorite doctor turned Norse warrior. I give this one a 9/10.

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Batman #39

SUPERFRIENDS pt III

Written by Tom King
Penciled by Joelle Jones
Cover by Mikel Janin
Published Jan 17, 2018

   As Commissioner Gordon sits in his office, he notices someone turned on the bat signal. He goes to the top and sees Wonder Woman, who thought this would be a fun way to call up Batman. Once there, she tells him that the Gentle Man has contacted her.

Hey heeeeeeey!

   To recap, he's apparently a timeless warrior who forever battles demons. Now he wants a vacation. Catwoman asks if this isn't more Superman's thing, and later laughs at Bruce's bat armor. Wonder Woman also mocks him, and with that, opens the portal.

In fairness, Selina is wearing a leather cat suit.

   In this dimension, the two of them fight demons and monsters, while Selina is left to show the Gentle Man the sights of Gotham. Wonder Woman gets flirty while Bats is furiously busy battling, while in the real world, Cat takes the stranger to Bat Burger.

Bat-Burger?

   Batman and Wonder Woman continue fighting, and the longer they're in this dimension, it takes a toll. Back in Gotham, Selina learns the stranger is married and time passes slowly. The issue wraps with Bruce and Diana getting tired of fighting, but the portal must be opened from the outside. The hours they've been gone translates to almost a decade. As they draw in for what looks like some soon to be makeout action, we're left to be continued.

It's just 10 years. Y'all can handle it...

   So perusing the web, it looks like this issue falls flat with readers for a few different reasons. First of all, DC has tried to move Wonder Woman past having any supposed typical female romance weaknesses, and Tom King brings that right back into the mix. I was more annoyed that he would move back and forth between subjects with every page. Either way, even when this book is bad, it's still pretty decent. I give this one an 8/10.

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Invincible Iron Man #596

THE SEARCH FOR TONY STARK pt IV

Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Penciled by Stefano Caselli and Alex Maleev
Cover by Mike Deodato Jr.
Published Jan 17, 2018

   Riri, her mother and her Stark AI confront the Stark board. She agrees to hand them over all of her tech, even though it was gifted to her by Tony Stark. Obviously her mother is upset, but as Riri explains it gets the heat off them. Plus she still has backups.

Shut up, Riri. Or they'll take those too.

   Meanwhile in France, Doom is confronted by the Hood, Corrupter and Living Laser. They’re still little match for his magic though. As he forces the Hood to put his own pistol to his head, the Corruptor gets him from behind. On the ropes, he tells them to leave but they persist. Finally he overcomes them, and the Hood blows the Corruper away. Doom wins, but it should have never gotten that close...

Well homey - he DID tell you to leave.

   Elsewhere Tony languishes in his Model 3 armor and talks with his drunken father. He asks why Tony has always been afraid to ask for help while Tony hits back with keeping his adoption a secret. They trade barbs but in the end, Tony cries out. And he cries out for his old friend Rhodey.

Better be careful or the Punisher is gonna show up.

   Over the New Jersey turnpike, Amanda, MJ, Friday and AI Tony hone in on one of his last locations. They breeze past security and Tony’s mother runs to the armor lying on the ground. It’s unfortunately empty but finding at least that renews her hope.

Oh snap, Amanda. You pulled your boy's head off?!

    The issue wraps with Riri making a phone call. She’s agreed to, um.. what I assume is to talk to the press when she’s interrupted. Vampire hunter extraordinaire Blade tells her to hang up. He thinks he’s got a better offer. What will happen next? We’ll have to wait as this issue is left to be continued.

According to pop culture, it's time for Blade to show up again.

   After Infamous Iron Man ended, I didn’t know what to expect with the merging of these two books, along with this two book’s artists. It’s been a tremendous success as the book flows perfectly with very little drag. Proof still we’ll be missing Brian as he leaves this book but still leaves it in some amazing hands. Dan Slott will have a lot to work with as he takes over yet another legendary character. The search for Tony has proved to be an awesome arc. I give this one a 9/10.

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Avengers #676

NO SURRENDER pt II

Written by Mark Waid, Al Ewing, and Jim Zub
Penciled by Pepe Larraz
Cover by Mark Brooks
Published Jan 17, 2018

   As Wasp and Beast monitor Jarvis, something goes very wrong with his bioscan. Meanwhile Voyager addresses all of the teams of Avengers at the mansion. Throughout the next few pages, several classic Avengers panels are updated to remind you that you've clearly forgotten Valerie Vector was there all along. Remember? She was there the whole time, finally meeting her match against Victory - jettisoned from normal existence until the Earth was stolen.

I mean, how could anybody forget this?!

   Now she's returned, and with the current leadership of Rogue, Falcon, and Sunspot aka Citizen V, they need to find out why some members are in suspended animation. Coupled with satellites being down and constellations making magic unpredictable, the Avengers are in big trouble.

Is this bad?!

   Meanwhile in Egypt, a man and his elderly mother run from the fire in the sky and Thanos' Black Order find themselves face to face with the Grandmaster's Lethal Legion. The battle begins immediately and the two factions trade blows. Finally two booming voices order them to stop, and prepare for a greater fight. They obey and the Black Order plans to eliminate any other forces that might stop them going forward.

Let's all go fight the Avengers first.

   Back at the mansion, the Avengers leadership does their best to make a plan, but as they lose focus they all realize it's best to first deal with their frozen teammates. Later Voyager agrees that smaller groups are best when suddenly feedback squeals over their comm screens. Quicksilver attempts to stop it until they see the Black Order floating in mid-air. They tell them they’d only be in the way of their upcoming fight, and as Falcon sends Redwing to gauge their location, he realizes they’re directly above the mansion. They Generate a massive burst of energy into it and it explodes. What will happen next? Has the Black Order completely rid the now stolen planet of Earth’s mightiest heroes? We’ll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

Obviously they're all dead.

   At first I was skeptical about a weekly series, as almost every time I’ve seen one done, it turns into a mess. This though... this is near perfect. To merge three of the finest writers in the Marvel braintrust on one epic series - plus with amazing artwork to boot, I just can’t see this book having any drop off. And what a layered, stunning story to shore it up. This is great and I think it can only get better. I give this one a 10/10.

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All New Wolverine #29

ORPHANS OF X pt V

Written by Tom Taylor
Penciled by Juann Cabal
Cover by Elizabeth Torque
Published Jan 17, 2018

   Old Man Logan lies dead on a table with a Murumasa bullet in his brain, while Henry Sutter and his mistress Amber promise to each other to kill X-23 together. Meanwhile, Murumasa himself drains parts of Laura, Gabby and Daken’s souls to forge armor. They lie about recovering when Laura smells death. She runs back to tell her aunt and cousin to seek refuge and muster the other 2 wolvie clones.

Guys wake up. I smell something.

   Once they’ve gathered on the front lawn, the Hand soldiers attack. They fell them easily when Gabby takes a bullet in the leg. Daken carries her up the hill. Once inside, they’re attacked by the Orphans of X when Laura deflects their bullet. The Wolverine is clad in Murumasa armor. Amber address her and tells her Sabertooth, Lady Deathstrike, and Logan are all dead. She attacks with claws drawn and shatters the Hand soldiers. Daken asks Megan for her cellphone and appears to perform some sort of horrible self-surgery.

Can I borrow your phone?

   He storms outside and yells to Laura he’s planning for them to capture him. He does just that, before one of the older Orphans tells Amber to retreat as he must now face Gorgon. He does so and is immediately decapitated. When the leader of the Hand bows before Murumasa, he’s told to bring Wolverine and her people wherever they choose to go as an atonement. 

Gorgon: Nice to Wolverine. Mean to Daredevil.

   She tracks Megan’s phone to a warehouse in Brooklyn. Wolverine and Honey Badger enter and leave a trail of dead behind them. When they finally find Daken, he lies upon the table dead. Laura pops a claw and tells Gabby it’s time for an impromptu brain surgery. And with that,  we’re left to be continued. 

Awesome!

   This series is definitely on an upswing. While Tom Taylor still has a tendency to pepper his stories with cuteness, usually out of nowhere...I’ve kind of come to expect it at this point, so anytime I don’t get a dose of it, I have a hard time doling out any criticism. This was one of those. With Logan coming back from the dead, I still feel like he’s apt to claim his namesake back. When to expect that though - who knows? I give this one a 9/10..

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