All New Wolverine #34-35

OLD WOMAN LAURA pts II-III

Written by Tom Taylor
Penciled by Ramon Rosanas
Covers by David Lopez
Published April 25 and May 16, 2018

   Outside Doom’s Latverian dome, Hawkeye and Captain Marvel join Laura, Gabby and Maria Hill. But once inside, they realize all cybernetics are disabled. Kidnapping one of his subjects, the doom bots are activated and the team realizes time is very much of the essence..

Oh so kidnapping that kid was a bad move?

   Hill walks away to talk to her special bullet, and as Hawkeye is able to shoot the approaching Doombot with it, the casing opens up, revealing a tiny Janet Van Dyne now in control of the massive robot. The team makes a big mistake though, as one of the remaining bots fires a blaster through Laura and into Maria Hill's chest. She tearfully passes away as the 5 superheroes strengthen in their resolve.

"...my..greatest regret... is that I have to die in this shitty book....*"

  Laura plans to seek out Doom, and sends the rest of the team after the prisoners. As she and Captain Marvel break into the throne room, they remark that it was far too easy. Doom attacks, and Laura foolishly tries to lift Thor's hammer. The distraction allows the others to continue on into the dungeons.

Yeah, that's a great idea.

   The robots lift Laura up and the real, older, and decrepit Victor Von Doom approaches. Meanwhile down below, the others find Gabby's long lost cloned sister, Bellona. Doom attaches a sensor to the dying mutants head but being unaware of her condition, is painfully swept into her body. He realizes his mistake, but as he swaps back, he finds Laura has already run his old body through with a footclaw.

ooooof... gross.

   The issue wraps with the freed hero prisoners destroying what's left of the doombots. Gabby runs to her older clone and calms her as she's content to die, but the young Wolverine isn't ready to concede. Gabby pulls her sister to her feet, determined to cure her with whatever future science is available. With that, this issue, and this series thankfully, is finally concluded.

It's finally the end.

   I lamented the other day about how amazing Jane Foster was at subbing for Thor. It was a remarkable tale and played so true to the original character, it almost made me not really want Odinson back in the role. Tom Taylor's All New Wolverine was nearly the complete opposite of that. With this series, you got a campy cast of new characters that reminded me of an unfunny Deadpool. Putting this series out of it's misery was the right call, although the last few issues were on something of an upswing. Will X-23 be better back in her old series? We can only hope. But either way, I give these 2 issues an improved 8/10.

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X-Men Gold #26-28

‘TIL DEATH DO US PART pts I-III

Written by Marc Guggenheim
Penciled by Michelle Bandini and Geraldo Borges
Covers by Phil Noto
Published April 18, May 2, and May 23, 2018

   Colossus and Kitty talk while the other X-Men team up for a scouting mission. Rachel spots Mesmero disguised as an old woman. He’s quick though, and grips her telekinietically. Nightcrawler bamfs him airborne and Rogue stuns him with a punch. High above the city, Storm zaps him. Back on the ground, Kurt checks on Rachel, and it’s easy to see she’s managed to get a great deal stronger lately..

   Meanwhile, Lydia Nance and her sentinel Alpha walk their facility in the Savage Land. While they scheme up a nanotech mutant extinction plan, Colossus and the X-Men, um.. men.. celebrate with his bachelor party in Vegas. With a lot on his mind, he goes to the restroom but encounters Alpha. The sentinel swarms him and gives him trouble. Iceman goes after him but struggles with the super quick robot, and it’s able to escape with Piotr Rasputin in tow.

   Kitty and the other X-Men are quickly aboard the Blackbird, heading towards the others. As Lydia outlines her plan to destroy mutantkind to Colossos, Rachel is able to get a bead on him. They arrive in the Savage Land and split up, but Alpha is obviously aware of their presence. IT attacks them on different fronts while Kitty finds and subsequently goes after Lydia. Unfortunately it’s a ruse to buy time, as her sentinel is able to get the drop on them.

   Storm uses her new and very convenient Thor hammer to pull them all outside just in time to see a rocket taking off. Alpha pilots the ship skyward to somehow extract the Legacy Virus from Colossus’s blood. Back on the ground, Nance tells Kitty about how re-engineering the virus, they’ll be able to deploy nanites to kill anyone who contains the x-gene. Kitty decks her out, and after some discussion, as well as some help from Alpha Flight, rockets into space towards an abandoned Roxxon space-station. 

   Using some evasive maneuvers, they avoid the stations first string of defenses. Thanks to Thor Storm, the avoid the rest but one slips through. As the ship crashes on the station's surface, Kitty phases it through the vessel.

   The issue wraps with the X-Men scattering through the station. With the X-Men in battle, Kitty phases through the floor and en route to her fiance. What happens next though will have to wait, as this issue is left to be continued.

   So recently it was announced that both this book and X-Men Blue will be ending in September. That's kind of good and bad news to me, because not only has Cullen Bunn's series been pretty good, this book just so happens to be trending upwards. Still, it's not all that surprising. With the recent unveiling of a new, unnamed book coming soon, we can only fill our time with so many X-books. I give these an 8/10.

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The Mighty Thor #706

AT THE GATES OF VALHALLA

Written by Jason Aaron
Penciled by Russell Dauterman
Cover by Russell Dauterman
Published April 18, 2018

   The bloodied and blinded Asgardians stand by a mourning Odinson as Lady Jane Foster lies dead. Meanwhile, her spirit stands in front of Valhalla. Odin also stands near, accusing her of ruining everything from turning Asgard against him to stealing Thor’s hammer. But has nothing but praise following her destroying of the Mangog. With an joyous eternity awaiting her, she can’t make the step. Because Jane Foster simply wasn’t ready to die.

Well Jane, who ever is?

   Back on the moon, the tempest from Mjolnir swells. Odinson calls down the thunder to the dismay of the others. Meanwhile the Valkyries stand at the gates to usher Thor when she’s unexpectedly in pain. Odin recognizes the god tempest clinging to her as Odinson continues to call down strike after strike.

IS THAT ALL YOU GOT?!

   He tries in vain until he feels his father touching his shoulder. Odin has returned to help his son control the powers. Jane continues to stand at the gates as Odin explains that she feels her story has more to be written. With one final, mighty strike, the powerful lighting comes down and there’s a crackle of a spark in Jane’s mortal eyes. She gasps, and what remains of Asgard’s population cheers.

To be honest, I didn't expect that.

   Days later, Jane walks the ruins hand in hand with Odinson. She’d agreed to return to Midguard to fight her cancer with full strength, and getting to see her greatest life experience is exhilarating, if only for just a visit. She gives him a tiny piece of Mjolnir she recovered from the moon. There must always be a Thor, she tells him. She was honored to carry the hammer for a while, but it’s time he reclaimed who he truly is. With that, the story of Jane Foster as Thor comes to an end. But the story of Jane Foster’s life is only beginning.

I don't think we've seen the last of Jane Foster as Thor - for some reason...

   What an awesome book. I remember the early days of Marvel’s weird Make-Everyone-A-Girl-Or-Minority thing and I was understandably a little freaked out. How can a woman carry Thor’s hammer? I’m happy to say that here at the end, it’s really not even a question. Her time as the god of thunder was brief in the overall picture, but what she accomplished - mostly through the talents of Jason Aaron, was truly remarkable. I look forward to Odinson picking up Mjolnir again like old times, but Jane as Thor was amazing... And I’m gonna miss it. I give this one a 10/10.

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Justice League #43

JUSTICE LOST: FINALE

Written by Christopher Priest
Penciled by Pete Woods
Cover by David Yardin
Published April 18, 2018

   Jessica Cruz waits for the Justice League - but they haven't showed. The reason why? They're dealing with Deathstroke in Africa, who has a contract with the Red Lion. Luckily though, Cyborg has an idea.

Cyborg with the plan...

   Meanwhile, Raven uses magic to heal Wonder Woman, but leaves her in a fight for her life against Thanatos. But while she fights in another realm, the League seemingly struggles with Deathstroke. He battles them all until finally only Cyborg remains.
   Deathstroke knocks him out with a brutal shock, and turns to deal with the warlords next but predictably sees them running away. The situation is defused, and his contract clause with Red Lion is finished.

Pay that man.

   Wonder Woman returns, and she and Flash hurriedly return to the fight. She gets there and punches out Deathstroke but the rest of the Justice League is completely fine. They all took dives so Deathstroke could complete his mission without killing anyone.
   Simon Baz finally gets lunch with Superman, but can't handle it. While Jessica heads to Wayne Manor to apologize to Bruce for kissing him. Catwoman opens the door and apparently all is forgiven.

The Big Reveal: Catwoman watches shitty television.

   Cyborg, Batman, and Superman settle up all their differences. The Justice League must go on. Meanwhile the day for their meeting arrives, and Jessica is again still waiting. Vixen comes in and assumes all JL teams are officially dissolved. Jess wonders what she'll do but is suddenly surprised to see everyone, including Martian Manhunter. There's a crisis and they need help... but is Green Lantern in? Of course she is. With that - this series comes to a bittersweet conclusion.

But do we get a vacation first?

   And so the Rebirth era and everything that seemed to follow it comes to an end. While I'm going to miss Christopher Priest, the time did inevitably feel right like it was time to wrap it up. Seeing a bloodied team on the cover felt a little defeating, but the story came cohesively together. It was a great series, but I'm excited to see what's next for our favorite heroes. I give this one a 9/10.

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Infinity Countdown #2-3

Written by Gerry DugganPenciled by Aaron Kuder
Covers by Nick Bradshaw
Published April 18 and May 2, 2018

   Along with a brand new Groot, the Guardians make quick work of Scar. They join Drax in defending the Power Stone vs both the Chitauri's Warbringer and the Raptors. The battle rages mightily between them before Talonar recognizes Richard Rider. He reveals himself as his long lost brother Robbie, and the two enjoy the reunion before being crushed by the Warbringer.

What a great reunion!

   Scott Adsit calls for med evacs as Ant Man tries his best to shrink the massive power stone. Eve Bakian finally gives birth to her daughter in the warzone, but the war continues to escalate.
   Meanwhile, Adam Warlock emerges from his tomb and zips through the galaxy to capture the Soul Stone to trade Kang. When he gets there, he finds Ultron-Bots and the entire planet conquered. He's engulfed in them but the power inside him blows the robots to bits. He asks where Ultron Prime is and he finally finds him - torturing and assimilating the Silver Surfer.

Oh, Adam - there you are. Say, give me a hand with this...

   Warlock punches Ultron but is eventually being overtaken by the captured Surfer. He finally is able to heal the cosmic hero, but when he returns to life, he flees - leaving Warlock in Ultron's grasp... unable to do anything in the wake of his universal conquering missile launch.
   Back at the power stone, the fight continues but the Warbringer is slowly gaining ground. Antman is blasted unconsciously onto a stretcher bound for evacuation. Meanwhile Robbie is tended to by his Raptors, but before leaving, gifts his Nova brother with some advice - the Power Stone is all mind over matter.

"...the money... is in... the banana stand..."

   As the Guardians begin to accept defeat, the only thing left to do is ask Drax to finally play them some saxophone. He blasts out some apparently unreal tunes, distracting the Chitauri until Nova is able to deliver Talonar's message. Star Lord walks towards the stone and with mind over matter, immediately shrinks it to fit in his hand.

Well that was easy.

   The issue wraps with Quill throwing the stone into Drax's horn, soothing the remaining fight into an explosive wave of defeat. Drax tosses the stone to Richard, and the Nova shoots them off the planet's surface. But as they fly from the planets surface, elswhere the Silver Surfer beckons a cosmic elder for one more favor. Galactus looks towards him, with the request to devour one more planet for the good of the universe. What happens next? We'll have to wait as this issue is left to be continued.

Excuse me, but aren't you that gigantic planet eating fellow?

   If you've listened to a lot of my reviews, you know I'm not a humongous fan of the intergalactic side of Marvel. The Kree, the Skrulls, Galactus, and the Silver surfer - they've always been a little over my head. But one thing that can swiftly change my interest is the involvement of the master storyteller, Gerry Duggan. While these books are incredibly long, he's keeping me reeled in, and I'm stoked to see where he eventually wraps all this up. I give both of these books a 9/10.

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Incredible Hulk #715-716

WORLD WAR HULK II pts II and III

Written by Greg Pak
Penciled by Carlo Barberi and Marco Lorenzanna,
Covers by Mike Deodato Jr. and Greg Pak
Published April 18 and May 9, 2018

   Hulk continues waving the defeated Prince Phalkan in front of the cameras while his sister as well as his teammates try to get to Amadeus trapped inside. The two versions of the boy rage against each other, until eventually Maddy notices a throbbing vein in the monster's head - a secret morse code.

He's been doing that trick since we were kids...

   Meanwhile Alpha Flight shows up. They along with the Champions urge Hulk to hand over the Seknarfian criminal when Maddy uses her blaster to bring her brother's condition under control. It only goes so far though, as Hulk is able to crush the blaster before powering down.

PUNY GUN!

   He Hulk-claps the heroes back until Captain Marvel appears, trying along with his friends to talk some sense into the beast. Trying to twitch out some codes again, Amadeus has his sister blast Hulk with Alpha Flight's degammafication satellite. It works for a second, but he Hulk-jumps into the sky and destroys it. 

Everybody dance now!

   Finally Odinson appears. Fresh from their battle on Sakaar, the unworthy Asgardian is spooling for a rematch. Still, as strong as he is, he's no match for Hulk. Jimmy Woo and Black Panther use the diversion to attack, but Hulk finally realizes the problem is Amadeus Cho. Inside his mind, he picks up the green Cadillac and tries to smash his sensible inner-persona with it... What's gonna happen next? We'll have to wait to find out as this series is left to be concluded.

   Obviously I'm not the only Hulk fan who's ready to see Bruce Banner back, as Greg Pak has been driving the Amadeus-In-The-Trunk bit for the better half of a year. The series concludes with it's next issue, but continues with the Immortal Hulk - retaining it's Legacy numbering. I'm probably one of the few who's excited to keep the old numbering, but it's good to know what you're reading. A lot of these Greg Pak tales have been difficult to always figure that out. I give these two issues an 8/10.

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Daredevil #601-603

MAYOR MURDOCK pts I-III

Written by Charles Soule
Penciled by Mike Henderson
Cover by Chris Sprouse
Published April 18, May 16, and May 30, 2018

   Matt Murdock is now the acting mayor of New York City. After brazenly thwarting a Hand assassination attempt, he walks into City Hall with news about ninja attacks all over town. Murdock's first official act is to free the recently captured superheroes who were acting on his orders. They're newest assignment: Take out the Hand.

Get to stompin', super friends!

   Next up, Matt fires Kingpin goon Wesley as his chief of staff. With a phone call, Foggy is placed in the position. He continues reiterating to his staff to keep the citizens off the streets. Foggy arrives and is immediately charged with covering for his secret-superhero boss. Suddenly, Blindspot flies in the window and tells Matt the Hand have come for revenge due to giving him the power to kill Muse.

It's ok, Blindspot. Its not like he hasn't had to save you a million times already.

   Daredevil and Blindspot head to police HQ which has recently been overrun with Hand foot soldiers. They fight closer towards the building but after infiltrating, find it empty... but with a gigantic hole punched in the floor.

Wait, we need to see if this is covered under warranty...

   With need for more help, Daredevil calls on Elektra. In return, he promises to give her the names of those who invaded her mind. Next up, Matt calls Ryker's Island to make a deal with New York's supervillain crime lords. Freedom for their agreed cooperation. He reassures Foggy that it's pretty much their best chance.

Sure. We ain't got anything better to do...

   Meanwhile, the Beast sits filled with hatred and fear. It opens it's mouth and releases a scary, green cloud  - the embodiment of terror and all things evil. It drifts above the city and begins to overtake everything in it's path. Matt is too taken down as Foggy and Blindspot drag him back inside.

WHO FARTED?!

   The issue wraps with the new mayor unconscious, and an imposing gas mask wielding figure walking up the steps. He asks for entry, proving his value as he somehow makes the cloud dissipate. Inside he reveals himself as... Matt's priest, Father Jordan?! Pretty unexpected... but we'll have to wait to see what happens next, as this issue is left to be continued...

It's good to have the Lord on your side in Hells Kitchen.

   Charles Soule keeps putting in work, as his legendary run on Daredevil survives it's Legacy benchmark and keeps on delivering. Not only is he able to hatch awesome new arcs, he's able to sustain it at a high level, with every turn getting better and better. Mike Henderson might not be Ron Garney, but he's still able to craft the artwork in true Daredevil style. I give these three books a 9/10.

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Cable #156-157

PAST FEARS pts II and III

Written by Lonnie Nadler and Zac Thompson
Penciled by German Peralta
Covers by Daniel Warren Johnson
Published April 18 and May 16, 2018

   Cable and a young and depressed Hope Summers walk through the Wastelands when she spots some vagrants. Starving, she takes some offered food but when it turns out to be an attempted kidnapping, Cable blows some heads off. Eventually the baddies get the upper hand but Bishop, unluckily manages to find them.
   Outside, Cable knocks out the future X-Man and they make a run for it. The next morning, he trains her to shoot and he tells her about his parents. They search for supplies when Cable's arm flares up with the technovirus. Metus appears again, this time in the form of Wolverine. Cable blasts him just as Bishop again catches up to them. The monster wrangles them both, taking Bishop's form. Attempting to run away with Hope, Bishop blasts him before Metus absorbs him via his cybernetic arm and they bodyslide away.
   Years previous, an unconscious Nate Gray timeslides into Cable's lab. When he awakens, the technobeast again tracks them down, but Nate is too weak to fight him. With things getting dangerous, the two of them time jump to the end of time, where several different era Cable's have been gathered..
   Cable tells them about Metus and how they have to find him. They all talk strategy with the surliest one accusing Nate of being the monster. He leaves to get some rest, but is later consumed by the monster. They copies that are left are asked to prove they all have telekinesis to prove they're real. But once unrest is sowed again, the beast begins pulling the remaining clones in - one by one.
   The issue wraps with Cable strangely protecting Metus from Nate. As he lowers his pistol and prepares for a final shot, Cable allows the monster to flee. Nate tells his half brother that a time will come where'll have to deal with him... but Cable explains that time is not now. With that, they timeslide to another place - but we'll have to wait to find out what's next, as this issue is left to be continued.
   Like a lot of readers, I was concerned Ed Brisson leaving this book would know it back a peg, but these rookie writers have clearly shown they know everything that's supposed to be in a Cable book. These tales remarkably give off those old school X-Force vibes and I really like where they're taking things. I give these two a 9/10.

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