Avengers #685

NO SURRENDER pt XI

Written by Jim Zub, Mark Waid, and Al Ewing
Penciled by Paco Medina
Cover by Mark Brooks
Published March 21, 2018
   The Challenger shows off the remnants of his Black Order’s ingenuity, as the Grandmaster begs his daughter Voyager to help. She however is done with his games. Meanwhile Dr. Toni Ho calls all Avengers to assist them against Hulk’s rampage. Red Hulk does all he can to stall the monster but is clearly on the losing end. Eventually he gamma powers down, and what’s left to the team at HQ realizes they’re in big trouble.

This elderly man is no match for Hulk.

   Scarlet Witch puts Voodoo in stasis, releasing Vision who phases through Hulk. The distraction allows Quicksilver to save General Maverick and Enigma, but whatever the blue spots are, seem to be affecting them. Enigma faces the reality of a dead suit as Hulk keeps fighting Vision. 

Fight's over!

   Lightning and Cannonball watch as Vision slides his phased hands into Hulk’s brain. But when he solidifies, Hulk smashes the synthoid’s head and severely damages him. Everyone’s shocked as Voodoo returns from stasis. Hulk appears to have some control as Proxima Midnight and Black Swan walk into headquarters.

Oh cool, is this the party?!

   The last two Avengers between the Black Order and the pyramoid fight for their lives. Luckily Dr Ho and Enigma are able to use what’s left of her suit to cover them. With time running out, there’s time for one more play. Wonder Man zips in between them to have a little chat with his old friend Banner. Will the distraction be though to stop the monster? We’ll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

Hey you!

   So another Avenger falls at the hands of Hulk. How many of his former teammates will have to die in this series? Secondly, is it time to wrap things up? I was stoked for a weekly book once it was certain these writers weren’t mailing it in. But at this point, I don’t know how many more parts I can hang with. Things are still going good but the magic has to run out at some point. I give this one an 8/10.

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X-Men Blue #23

CRY HAVOK pt I

Written by Cullen Bunn
Penciled by Jorge Molina
Cover by Jorge Molina
Published March 14, 2018

   In Madripoor, the Raksha break into X-HQ, but describe to Polaris they were simply worried after not hearing from the X-Men in so long. Meanwhile Magneto talks strategy with Briar Raliegh as well as Jimmy Hudson and Bloodstorm on assignment. They're tracking Miss Sinister and her encounters with Mothervine and secondary mutations when Polaris walks in with the young ninjas.

Um Magneto, there's some young ninjas here to see you.

   They show Magneto the Hellfire Club masks they've found. Briar dismisses it as a distraction. Eventually Magneto explains he must take leave but leaves Madripoor in the Rakha's hands.

   In Colombia, Sentinal Prime units prepare for their next mission when Bastion and Havok interrupt them. He destroys the cyborg sentinels as their core protocols are now against his charter. The remainders begin to activate when their masters fight back to shut them down.

Havok's old costume was cooler.

   Back at headquarters, Polaris tells the Raksha about Havok when Gazing Nightshade pries a little deeper than she's prepared for. While in London, Magneto raids the posh Hellfire Club party mansion. He eventually walks in on Sebastian Shaw for a little chat.
   Over a drink they talk about the old times, but Erik quickly discovers the Black King is empowered with different abilities, signs of a secondary mutation himself.

Your secondary mutation SHOULD have been to get you out that costume.

   In the Mojave Desert, Jimmy and Bloodstorm sneak into a familiar encampment. He quickly spies the Marauders, villains from his dystopian future. One person he does not recognize though is Xorn, which unfortunately always spells trouble.
   Elsewhere Miss Sinister meets with Emma Frost, Bastion and Havok. The plan to release Mothervine worldwide is under way, with the ability to quadruple the mutant population. Havok and Emma speak telepathically, and it's clear though that they plan to eliminate their co-conspirators when the time is right.

Because someday this'll all go awry.

   The issue wraps at the mansion with the robot maid Ferris showing Polaris a locket she found in Jean Gray's things. It was a trap to capture Marvel Girl, but the hitchhiker will make do. Malice shorts out Ferris and is now in control of Polaris. What will happen next? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

...as if y'all didn't already have enough problems...

   One of the pros to having such a large team at your disposal is the ability to just launch a new lineup at any time. With the original X-Men lost in space, a new team is assembled, but luckily with the same amazing writer. Cullen Bunn is a masterful writer. So you lose a few X-Men? As long as this book is in his hands, it's pretty guaranteed to be a winner. I give this one a 9/10.

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The Punisher #222

WAR MACHINE pt V

Written by Matthew Rosenberg
Penciled by Guiu Vilanova
Cover by Clayton Crain
Published March 14, 2018

   Petrov gives a victory speech to his troops before they're interrupted by a falling tank. The Punisher has returned and opens fire on the army while Nick Fury chides Frank for not leaving the country. Chernaya has nuclear weapons and has threatened to use them. Threats still that go unheeded by one Frank Castle.

Y'all lose this?!

   The president's former SHIELD guards prepare to suit up to defend him as he walks into the bunker. Meanwhile Frank blows up tanks and continues killing the troops, even as Petrov reminds him he's attacking a sovereign nation. Suddenly he's hit from behind. The former agents explain to him that he's in a fight he cannot win.

Come on, Frank. Don't make yourself kill us.

   Frank throws c4 in one of their masks, blowing his head off. He then blows up the truck and the guards lose him, thinking he's jumped into a nearby tank. They use their armor to blow it up but by the time they inspect it, he's fled, later surfacing from underground. He bats them with the tank as the war machine armor warns of heavy damage.

Batter up!

   He ignores the warnings, bashing them with the turret. Nearby, Petrov initiates the nuke launch while Frank bids his armor farewell. Fury comes over comms and explains there's one final mission. as the Punisher takes off after the missile. Will he be able to stop it in time? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

   Matthew Rosenberg did such awesome work on the Phoenix Resurrection that it's easy to forget his regular gig. Like the afore mentioned book, this one too is like a resurrection taking over for where Becky Cloonan had left it. His work has been stellar and deserves all the accolades it can get. I really enjoy where they're taking it with this series. I give this one a 10/10.

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Old Man Logan #36

MOVING TARGET pt 1

Written by Ed Brisson
Penciled by Dalibor Talajic
Cover by Mike Deodato Jr
Published March 14, 2018

   As Logan moves through Times Square, the images of Mayor Wilson Fisk remind him they're still on the path to end mutant existence. He walks into a bar, and realizes there's a person there who's been following him. The man explains he recognized Wolverine and tells him he has info that can ruin Fisk.
   Meanwhile the Kingpin finishes a speech and later reiterates to his goons that his missing flash drive must be recovered... at all costs., Elsewhere, Nicky - the man who now has it shows it to Logan who tells him the first thing they need to do is run. They take a crowded subway and a nervous Nicky is suddenly assassinated.
   With the drive in hand, Logan slices the guards hand off as shots ring out, ripping into the X-Man. Unfortunately they're interrupted by an oncoming train, which runs over the goons and Logan makes a break for it.
   At a nearby drugstore, the heavily bleeding mutant picks up rubbing alcohol and band aids. He orders the clerk to not call the police and he shuffles away. Back at the mayor's office, his henchmen give him the bad news that Logan escaped with the drive. Looking for better, he turns to longtime Daredevil enemy Bullseye to get it back for him. What will happen next? Will Daredevil help to protect his old X-buddy? Guess we'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.
   You know, it's been a while but I'm stoked to see the original berserker get another crack at the Kingpin and his allies. Bullseye has always been a favorite of mine. Sadly the realms of Westchester and Hells Kitchen don't seem to pair up too often, but when they do I'd say we're all in for a treat. I give this one a 9/10.

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Despicable Deadpool #296

BUCKET LIST pt V

Written by Gerry Duggan
Penciled by Matteo Lolli
Cover by Mike Hawthorne
Published March 14, 2018
 
   Captain America and Deadpool battle on the street as Wade blames everything on Cap. Rogers still insists he should have known better, but Deadpool counters that if it were one of the other Avengers that killed someone on his orders, there would be a double standard.
   Cap goes on to say he feels terrible Deadpool was fooled, and in spite of it all, reiterates he'll seek leniency on the merc. But Wade will have none of it, telling him that the only way to stop him from fighting is to pin him to the ground with his sword. Cap does just that, in front of a group of cellphone carrying kids.
   Deadpool takes off and leaps into a manhole. Cap decks a construction worker Wade cleverly slipped his mask on.  He chases after him and finally they come to Wade's hideout. When he tells Cap to open a nearby box, he sees Preston's disabled robotic body and Deadpool demands she be repaired.
   The issue wraps with him blowing up one of the support columns and explaining the trigger is equipped with a dead man's switch, rigged to blow the rest of the columns if anything happens to him. He tells Cap the only way he surrenders is to Preston herself, and with that, this issue is left to be continued.
   So at this point, it's been announced this series will conclude with issue #300. To Duggan's credit, a lot of this series has been good. Some of it though was filler - like for example, this issue right here. Are we really supposed to believe Cap would be this heartless after the crimes his masquerading other did in his place? Well maybe. But using 14 pages of fighting and banter? Come on. They can't all be winners. I give this one a 6/10.

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Avengers #684

NO SURRENDER pt 10

Written by Mark Waid, Jim Zub and Al Ewing
Penciled by Paco Medina and Joe Bennet
Cover by Mark Brooks
Published March 14, 2018

   The book opens through the eyes of Bruce Banner, from his first Hulk transformation to every single reanimation since. Recapping his murder/suicide at the hands of Hawkeye and finally to the surrendering of his body to Dr Voodoo, eventually the monster is released to the possession of the Challenger. But with Voyager taking the final pyramoid, the Hulk has lost his target.

Go get em, Ray!

   At Jarvis’s hospital room, Beast and Wasp break down Voyager’s deception. Meanwhile at Avengers HQ, Dr. Toni Ho corresponds to the field teams but gets little response from Beast. In sickbay, Quicksilver and Cannonball regain consciousness amid an energy field enveloping them... Voyager has transported back with the pyramoid and locks herself away in the storage vault. Needing time to rest, we learn that the Grandmaster is actually her father. Usually his secret weapon, this time she rebels.

wait, so that's NOT how I remember it?!

   Meanwhile, Challenger sends Hulk into action. His first target is Menacle and Captain Glory whom give him little trouble. While the Avengers speak over comms, HQ is his next target. Enigma is sent to stop him. She rejects Dr. Ho's advice to stay phased and instead, hardens. Hulk tears her armor apart almost immediately, and her screams convince Cannonball to also join her in quick defeat.

Good job, dummy.

   The issue wraps with Lightning, squaring off with the Hulk and giving him everything he has. When the smoke clears, the green monster just looks at him. Finally he gets called out and turns to see Red Hulk equipped with the Iron Patriot armor. What happens next? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

I'm the next guy to kill.

   So as predicted, Voyager makes her heel turn but looks to be on the fence as to which side to back. It's exciting to see a turn of events that really makes an engaging new character even more interesting. Meanwhile as Hulk looks more indestructible than ever, this series keeps getting better and better. I give this one a 9/10.

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Astonishing X-Men #9

A MAN CALLED X pt III

Written by Charles Soule
Penciled by Matteo Buffagni
Cover by Leinil Francis Yu
Published March 14, 2018

   Psylocke and X writhe in a jointly fused, Proteus created abomination while the X-Men develop a plan. As Proteus hates metal, Archangel closes in towards Betsy and pulls her out of the storm, later protecting her with his wings. Old Man Logan has a different idea. As Xavier used Phatomex’s body, he has a healing factor. Logan stabs him with his claws. As he retracts them, X explains he didn’t take the body, just used it. As he bleeds, Betsy puts him to sleep while a cheeky Logan says...”oops”.

X needs to be bald. It's too confusing for people like Logan.

   On the other side of the world in Scotland, some villagers gather in a pub. Suddenly a green light streams through the window and Proteus explains that he’s here to give them what they want.

Aye..

   Meanwhile in London, the blackbird streams past the burning building they recently left. X is tended to by Bishop and Psylocke as the time traveler confides in her, many things have happened that reveal a terrible event on the horizon. They head north, which just so happens to be where Proteus promises the Scots anything they could ever dream of. First step is to erect a massive wall around the village, guarded by troops and demons alike. Next he prods the townsfolk to dream, painfully creating a green field over them all. The event is enough to waken X from his healing sleep.

NOOOOOO!

   He explains to them that Proteus seeks to bring the Astral Plane to reality. While the X-Men deem it impossible, he thinks he’s found a way. Back at the countryside, the people begin wishing for anything - the first of which is blinking a romantic rival from existence. Pandora’s box has no doubt been opened - but what will happen next? We’ll have to wait as this issue is left to be continued...

See ya!

   Astonishing X-Men continues to deliver flawlessly. Charles Soule keeps remarkably proving he’s one of comics best writers, which if you love the X-Men, conversely highlights how lacking X-Men Gold and X-Men Red are. Take a lesson, X-writers.. because this is the bar. I give this one a 10/10.

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Action Comics #999

THE FURY OF GENERAL LANE

Written by Dan Jurgens
Penciled by Will Conrad
Cover by Kaare Andrews
Published March 14, 2018
   Jon excitedly answers the door. Granddad Lane has finally come to the Kent residence, but he doesn't waste much time to immediately dog out his daughter, Lois. Not just about blowing his cover on secret missions through the press, but about Jon's secret father, Superman.

Thanks for saving me, but Superman sucks!

   Meanwhile, Supes uses the opportunity to blow up some asteroids for the good of earth. Reflecting on recent events, the Phantom Zone is essentially the cruelest prison a being can be stuck in. Superman searches through the asteroid to find something... or someone.

Now WHERE did I leave my wallet?!

   Back in Metropolis, Sam Lane shows his appreciation for being rescued from his own prison by continuing to rail against Superman. Jon does his best to change his grandfather’s mind but it’s to no avail. His point? Just because an indestructible alien is a good guy now, won’t keep him from becoming evil somewhere down the road.

Apparently Sam didn't see Batman v Superman in that jail...

   At the same time, Superman works to save Hank Henshaw, who through really no fault of his own became the evil Cyborg Superman. He opens the orb that has cruelly held the mass murdering villain and hopes he’s learned a lesson. It becomes evident pretty quickly that he has not. He attacks the Man of Steel but after a brief battle, he finally decides to listen. He’s created a way to keep the Cyborg in prison but through a cool way he can just constantly relive his memories, which I guess is a lot better than the hell he’s been in. Leaving him in suspended animation, Superman rolls out.

Everything good here? Ok, bye.

   Back at the Kent’s, Sam has had enough and decides to bail on his newly reunited family when Clark strolls in. With goodwill on his mind, he works to heal the wounds between the estranged general and his daughter. He re-introduces them all and the fresh start warms the icy situation. They all happily enjoy the company and this one shot story of redemption comes to a happy conclusion. 

Clark talked sense into him with the quickness.

   So just like that, the Dan Jurgens era comes to an end. To his credit, it's not easy to be the guy who's book is about to get taken over by probably one of the biggest names in the business. Especially with as much fanfare as Bendis is getting. I was never really expecting too much with Dan, as this book has been on the DC backburner for a long time. But he did pretty good, and in the end helped expand a legacy that Jerry Siegel himself would be proud of. I give this one an 8/10.

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All New Wolverine #32

THE ORPHANS

Written by Tom Taylor
Penciled by Djibril Morrisette-Phan
Cover by David Lopez
Published March 14, 2018
   When Amber Griffin and Laura Kinney were both little girls, they had a similar story to tell. But while one was a scared kid in a new school, the other was a mind controlled assasin. While Amber is introduced at school, X-23 murders a presidential candidate. Shortly before learning her father was killed, Laura ran the secret service agent through with her claws.

So this is how Batman started too...

   Today Laura works to make things right. She shows Amber the files she’s put together, revealing that she’s discovered the identity of the corrupt Nazi lobbyist that arranged the hit. They plan to ambush him at his tropical island hideout.

I got all of this in the X-Men library.

   Once there, Laura shows her the large suitcase and super secret Hawaiian shirt she packed just for Amber. While Laura moves to do recon, Amber heads for the bar but is discovered pretty quickly. She agrees to go with the hired goons but not before ordering another drink.

Lemme grab some more booze...

   Later, Laura goes to meet her but is told she isn’t there. She follows her nose to where the former victim has been taken, and cuts through a wall to get there. He knows bullets won’t kill her so he orders his bodyguards to fire towards a buffet, forcing the mutant to back off. They speak and Amber explains to the crook that this was about her own revenge, not X-23’s. The terrible shirt electricutes the fugitive and Laura incapacitates the guards.

Well, it WAS a loud shirt.

   They walk to a waiting boat with the lobbyist in the suitcase. Amber shows Laura the actual Nazi-stomping boots she’s packed and they both put them on. Opening the suitcase, they look to kick some revenge into their target. And with that, this quick little tale of revenge comes to an end.

Here comes the pain!

   So who would have thought, an X-23 story without the annoying Gabby quips or Jonathan the Talking Wolverine could be pretty decent? Apparently Tom Taylor decided to spend more time on X-Men Red, unfortunately taking that title down a notch but benefiting the All New Wolverine. Fresh off mailing it in last issue, this one excels, showing us just what an amazing character subject is capable of. While I’m sure it’ll be fleeting, I’ll give props where they’re due. I give this one a 9/10.

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X-Men Red #2

THE HATE MACHINE pt II

Written by Tom Taylor
Penciled by Mahmud Asrar
Cover by Travis Charest
Published March 7, 2018

    Lakshay Singh shows Trinary the fortified walls of her new bunker. He knows what she did, but with Jean Gray allegedly blowing off someone's head last week, she's no longer the lead story. Still she vows to be released soon.
   That release will likely come at the hands of the X-Men, but with anti-mutant outrage at a high point, they currently find themselves in Wakanda after seeking asylum. Gabby makes herself at home and discovers Gentle, one of the world's strongest mutants who must meditate to control his powers.
   Jean is interrupted by word they've just received an encrypted message. Trinary, a mutant technopath explains she hacked into male CEO's bank accounts and redistributed the money to women, but now she's likely been captured.
   The team immediately heads to India to free her. There they find Lakshay and telepathically trick him into bringing them into Trinary's prison. With Jean controlling him, the team breaks in and frees her before Marvel Girl gets distracted. The crowd outside riots and she puts them all to sleep. Something's wrong though, and the few armed rioters who don't fall asleep fire a machine gun at her.
   Nightcrawler sprints to her aid, bamfing ahead of the rest of the team. When he gets to her, she's quited the assailants but allowed Lakshay to dial up an emergency code. A sentinel rumbles to life with mutant destruction on it's mind. What will happen next? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.
   So with the loss of young Jean recently in the pages of Venom, we've gained the old one back to lead a different team of mostly women...? Ok. I get it and that's cool. Still, do we need yet another X-Men Color Crew to read when the other titles are already somewhat coasting? X-Men Gold already has the sensitive Nightcrawler angle, and though issue 3 teases Gambit, he's already dusted off his X-Membership in the pages of Astonishing. This title is going to need more. I'm already usually unimpressed with Tom Taylor in the pages of Wolverine. If he's going to write another book, he better look like sharpening his pencil. I give this one a 6/10.

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