Old Man Logan #31

SCARLET SAMURAI pt I

Written by Ed Brisson
Penciled by Mike Deodato Jr.
Cover by Mukesh Singh
Published Nov 29, 2017

   Old Man Logan walks the streets of Tokyo when he stumbles upon a gang throwing someone through a bar window. He offers to buy a round if they let him go but instead they attack him, resulting in him slicing one of their arms off. If that wasn't alarming enough, the limb regenerates. Realizing it's gonna take some elbow grease, he knocks one of them out and persuades another to spill his guts.

Just need some extra coaching.

   Across town, a technician rebuffs the others from trying to get him to take a break. Once they're gone he steals some vials, but only makes it to the parking garage before his boss confronts him. He demands to know who the stolen goods are for. As the Silver Samurai holds him over the ledge, he confesses it was for Kenji Alzone of the Crazy Thunder Clan, before falling to his death.
   Logan walks towards the Clan's warehouse. As Kenji loudly complains that the vials of the experimental drugs aren't showing up, the future X-Man walks in and tells him that these substances don't need to be on the streets. Obviously this news is not well received, and as Logan tears into them, he realizes that being they're in a freezer, their limbs seem to not be regenerating as quickly. 

These guys clearly don't see things Logan's way.

Finally he gets the upperhand, and with claws to Kenji's neck learns that it's from a man called Touko Kenmochi.
   Meanwhile at the Yashida Corp, Touko is disturbed from a business call as the Hand scale his tower. They attack and he arrogantly takes them out while talking about how easy it is. This time though, he's joined by Gorgon, the Hand's leader. The Silver Samurai uses his powers to defeat all of them, but fails to realize one more still waits in the shadows. 

Was that so hard?!

Their invasion was all meant as a distraction, as he's impaled through the back. The Scarlet Samurai tells the dying Touku that Clan Yahsida is now in her capable hands. What will happen next? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.
   So finally, Old Man Logan get's his own taste of the Legacy treatment, and it's of course, a doozy. Ed Brisson shows us that he knows how to mold an old character in new and interesting ways, bringing Wolverine back to his Frank Miller inspired Japanese past. I've always been a fan of this characters past exploits there, and this new tale looks to have all the layers and weaponry it needs to be another great story. I've also read interviews alluding to the Scarlet Samurai being someone important from Logan's past. I can't wait to see who it could be. For this one, I give it a 9/10.

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X-Men Blue #16

CROSS TIME CAPERS pt I

Written by Cullen Bunn
Penciled by Thony Silas
Cover by Arthur Adams
Published Nov 29, 2017

  In Madripoor, Magneto sits reading in his study when he's suddenly stricken with pain. Meanwhile, Cyclops and Bloodstorm find each other on the rooftop seeking inner peace. They find that they have more in common than they think. Iceman sits on the couch watching some creepy run Mojo network, when they show an alternate reality that never actually occurred between the X-Men and the Brotherhood.

Hanging out with Bloodstorm is like hanging with Storm. Except she wants to eat you all the time.

   In the Danger room, Angel and Polaris train with Jimmy Hudson. They both try to keep the clawed mutant from holding back when without warning, Polaris disappears. Jean Gray and Beast talk over his curious tinkering when she too is struck with some terrible, inner mind intrusion. It's not her though, she says.. It's Magneto.

"Oh you know Henry... AAAAAAGH!"

   They both enter his chambers and he tells Jean to read his mind. She does so, and sees Xavier calling out to them. Somehow Magneto and the Professor are communicating, indicating a rift in the time constructs. There's consequences to them being in the present and Magneto needs to send them back to the past as soon as possible.
   In the basement sits a time machine, and with Danger at the controls, explains the plan to send them back. Beast explains that in the past, they already saw themselves already there. Danger suddenly disappears as well. Jean guesses that somehow, someone has found where the X-Men are supposed to be, but aren't. Beast mans the controls and zips the Blue Team across the universe.

Hey, I think I saw the Muir Island Saga in there. HEY CULLEN! TALK ABOUT THAT ONE TOO!

   Along the way they encounter some mystery battle, a prehistoric landscape littered with dinosaurs, Apocalypse, Scott and Jeannie's wedding, the Dark Phoenix saga, and finally to their unintended destination. They look up and see the X-Men of 2099, a mysterious group of mutants who tell them they're not where they're supposed to be. Where that is, and who these people exactly are will have to wait though, as this issue is left to be continued.

"Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1995..."

   I've noticed something odd within these newest X-Men books that's beginning to irritate me. For whatever reason, the writers of these titles seem completely obsessed with past stories from X-History. If there isn't a quick shot of Apocalypse or mention of the Phoenix force in every single issue of these books lately, I'd be shocked. When Brian Michael Bendis brought these original members into the future to stop the then-crazed Cyclops, he did so with all new stories. Cullen Bunn and Marc Guggenheim seem driven to point out every reference to every legendary arc from the series at any given opportunity. Now we have another blast from the past with the X-Men of 2099. I'm guessing the next arc will be from the X-Tinction Agenda, or a return to 1988's Fall of the Mutants, or 1994's Legion Quest. I'll keep reading because, I mean it's still the X-Men. But i see a lot of great chances for new and awesome ideas being missed. I give this one a 7/10.

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Venom #158

LETHAL PROTECTOR pt IV

Rad Mark Bagley cover.

Written by Mike Costa
Penciled by Mark Bagley
Cover by Mark Bagley
Published Nov 29 2017

   Beneath the streets, the Dino-People fall for Kraven's rat meat trap, running full speed into the Hunter. They fight back in vain before the NYPD officers in tow back him off. After a discussion amongst themselves about the exact chain of command, they decline to pursue the one's running away.

Q: "Should we go after them?"
A: "Nah, we're apparently the shittiest comic book cops ever."

   Meanwhile Eddie quietly suffers. Stuck under a collapsed portion of the sewer, he can only wait while the structure above dangerously teeters. Tana finally sniffs him out, though the confused and under medicated symbiote takes some time to recognize her. She begins to free him but he explains it would kill innocent people. She in turn finds the moloids who help free him. He makes it back to the rest of the Dino-folk but without the medicine from Alcamax, Eddie is starting to lose it.

"I NEED AN ASSSSSSSSSSPIRINNNNN!"

   On the other side of town, Lee Price's attorney argues before judge about his client's release. How can he be a danger to society when Venom is still out committing crimes? Back in the sewers, Kraven continues executing the dinosaurs when Venom makes it back and attacks. Shriek again, well.. shrieks but this time, rage overpowers her volume. Kraven leaps towards Venom and he throws the screaming supervillain back at him. He starts to eat the Hunter but Tana stabs him in the back with his medicine, saving him though incapacitating him in the process.

Here's your meds. I decided to double the dose and stab them into your back.

   Finally the police order them all to freeze. Tana gives an impassioned speech. The dino people wish no harm on the citizens of New York. The police consider the alternatives and decide to arrest Kraven and Shriek while a healing Venom thanks them for everything. The issue wraps with Lee Price collecting his things from the prison discharge and walking out, a free man. With that, the story continues in the next crossover arc with Spider-Man called Venom Inc, while this arc, Lethal Protector, is concluded.

Wait'll they get a load of me.. You know. Again..

   It's a shame I haven't been reading this book for longer than I have. Venom has always been one of my favorite characters, and Eddie Brock is his only rightful parasitic host. I enjoyed Lee Price's run with him as well, as the man wasn't complete evil but still tended to fight crime a lot less than the newly minted hero, Eddie Brock does. Like Deadpool though, there's no way either of them can keep the alien symbiote on the straight and narrow forever. For this issue, and for this arc overall, I give it a 10/10.

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All New Wolverine #27

ORPHANS OF X pt III

Written by Tom Taylor
Penciled by Juan Cabal
Cover by Terry Dodson
Published Nov 15 2017

   Gabby senses someone approaching,  and she tells Megan and Debbie to hide but they tell her they refuse to run. She pops a claw when in walks Laura and Daken. Gabby explains they planned to look for him, being they found his severed arm. He tells them that they’re being watched.

Look. When a man with one arm is waving a gun around going "LISTEN TO ME!!!", you may want to lend an ear.

   They tell him to calm down, but considering what he’s gone through, that’s not likely to happen. He tells them as well that he’d seen Laura on a live feed - care of the Orphans of X. She then introduces the people in the room, including her dead mother who just happened to show up when a mysterious group of people are trying to get information out of them. Not convinced, he aims his gun at her and fires.

OOOOOOOOoooooohhh!

   Daken tries to explain, but Laura sees red. She attacks, stabbing while Debbie and Gabby also join the fray. He tries to tell them that she wasn’t actually Laura’s mother, but the fight continues to rage - bloodier and bloodier. She runs to her mother’s side and as she fades, she opens her green glowing eyes and tells her the Oprhans of X are coming...
   She’s revealed as a conduit, controlled by the rebel group explaining their mission. For years they’ve been forgotten, but now their sole mission is to get their long awaited revenge. Later, Daken explains she wasn’t lying because she was only being controlled. Laura tells him that she gave Logan’s sword to Captain Marvel to dispose of, when it’s further shown that the orphans of X know her location.

Can you hear me now?!

   From high above, they parachute... while one of them divebombs to the ground. Carol Danvers gets a phonecall from Laura warning her but it's too late. She explodes into the captain. Laura, Daken, Debbie, Gabby, and Megan flee while the orphans meticulously excavate the shards of the Muramasa blade. With renewed vigor, they now have a weapon that can finally kill the Wolverines. How they'll escape will have to wait though, as this issue is left to be continued.

That sword's all broken, y'all.

   I followed this series for a while before and eventually bailed because I didn't particularly care for the writing. It seemed simple and forced, and Jonathan the Wolverine was really the last straw. With the resurrection of this timeline's Logan, I picked it back up to see where it goes. I assume they'll address it before too long, but with so many Wolverine's running around, it could get a bit interesting. This story arc is pretty entertaining, and I'd like to believe that Tom Taylor has finally turned a corner with Ms. Kinney. Only time will if that's the case. For this one, I give it an 9/10.

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X-Men Gold #16

THE NEGATIVE ZONE WAR pt I

Written by Marc Guggenheim
Penciled by Lan Medina
Cover by Ken Lashley
Published Nov 15 2017

   Ktty Pryde and Lydia Nance finish squaring off for a segment on the Fact Channel, and when it's clear they're off-air, Kitty speaks her mind. Later she walks through Times Square with Colossus. She plants a big kiss on the Russian and hands him a hotel room key.
   Meanwhile, Logan, Storm, Nightcrawler and Rachel revel in the protesters in Central Park who are obviously on their side. Suddenly a portal opens up. Kologoth's people have returned for him. Anole runs out with news of the extraterrestrial interference while Rachel sends a psychic phonecall to the still sleeping and still shacked up Kitty and Peter.
   Anole climbes out of a window or something, I think... and Logan uses the word '"exsanguinating" before it turns out an Alpha Flight squadron attacks the alien fleet. They make quick work of the Canadian air defense, which is unexplained why they'd be in New York, before Kitty sends Rachel and Storm up to get their attention.
   Next up, I guess Nightcrawler transports the rest of them onto the top of the ship, when Kitty phases through it to attack them. The ship heads down to pick up Kologoth and Logan falls from it. Rachel flies down to catch him and his blasted from behind, falling and landing hard on the ground.
   The ship lands and all the X-Men in and around it fall down. Storm exclaims in surprise at something... and the ship picks up it's passenger, later leaving and traveling through the portal it emerged from. Armor wakes the sleeping Logan, explaining the situation.Storm and Colossus are ok, Rachel Summers is hurt... again, and Nightcrawler and Kitty are missing.
   The issue wraps with Logan vowing to get them back. How that happens will have to wait though, as this issue is left to be continued.
   Well, it looks like this series and it's crossover appeal could only last so long, as once again we're left with the writing and art to stand on it's merits. Unfortunately, that appears to be difficult for this team, who showed a heavy lack of continuity, characters using terms they'd never use in the past, and just general X-laziness. I'm not expecting a Chris Clarmont-esque tale every issue, but this one came off as written and penciled way too quickly. In terms of ranking X-Men books, this one falls to the bottom of the list with a thud. I just hope there's a plan to get it back up. I give this one a 4/10.

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Star Wars #39

THE ASHES OF JEDHA pt II

Written by Kieron Gillen
Penciled by Salvador Larroca
Cover by David Marquez
Published Nov 15 2017

   Han, Leia, and Luke are masked before Bethnic, the now leader of Saw Gerrera's separatist Partisan movement. Han asks their hoods be removed and Bethnic asks why the rebels came to dying Jedha. Leia explains they want to better equip the partisans to fight the Empire. Ubin Des then introduces the trio and Leia tells him there must never be another Alderran or Jedha incident. After more posturing, Han gets testy and Bethnic finally backs down, willing to discuss their arrangement.
   Aboard a nearby cruiser, Commander Kanchar talks with Trios, giving Saw Gerrera some underhand compliments before inspecting a new mining tool. He declares that Jedha is now a prohibited moon to help cut down on the confusion between civilian and rebel. Back on the planet, Luke and his new friends tour the bombed out city remnants and getting near the remains of the ancient Jedi Temple. They openly criticize Bethnics separatists when suddenly, they discover Stormtroopers incinerating civilians. Before they can plan an attack, Luke springs into action with his light saber in hand. Cutting through the wall of a hut, he's able to attack from behind. As his contemporaries try to calm him down, his eyes glow yellow... in a super creepy Sith kinda way.
   Back aboard the Imperial ship, Trios lets Kanchar drop the mining drill and he apparently thinks its really cool for some reason. While on the planet's surface, Luke talks to Bethnic with renewed commitment to what's at stake. He shows him the newly landed drill thing and tells him it's time to blow it up. Han tells him destroying expensive Imperial equipment just happens to be he and Luke's specialty. How that happens, and no doubt the empire's response will have to wait though, as this issue is left to be continued.
   While they kind of teased it last issue, it's so awesome to see what the Star Wars comics can do that expensive movies can't. The subtle links between Rogue One and the original trilogy abound but what this book can continue to bridge is just that much cooler. Marvel's partnership with Lucasfilm gets stronger and takes advantage of telling more and more stories, even going above and beyond. This title is better than the older Star Wars books in the 80's could have ever dreamed of, and it shows. I give this issue a solid 10/10.

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The Punisher #218

WAR MACHINE pt I

Written by Matthew Rosenberg
Penciled by Guiu Vilanova
Cover by Clayton Crain
Published Nov 15 2017

   In Brooklyn, two interested parties meet to discuss the purchase and sale of some weapons when Frank starts silently assassinating them. They roll out some crates from a storage container and inside find the head of one of their goons with a grenade it his mouth. It explodes, and the Punisher emerges with guns blazing. 

I'm BACK!

   He continues his rampage, killing them each and amazing them that it's only one man. Eventually they think he might be down and they begin transferring what few guns they have left to a smaller boat. They don't get far though as Frank triggers a bomb aboard, and he walks back to his band as the tanker sinks in the background.
   When he opens the door, former SHIELD director Nick Fury awaits, inviting the Punisher to his favorite dim sum restaurant. He reluctantly accepts, and when they finally sit down Fury explains he has a job offer for him. An offer Frank immediately refuses before Fury can show him the details. 

Some van you got here, Frank.

The Republic of Chernaya has fallen into chaos, executing children as part of the grudges rival clans have with one another. General Armand Petrov heads the most destructive of the two. Worse yet, former SHIELD assets are now part of his militia.
   He proposes Frank steal back on of SHIELD's old weapons, further insulting them as former Marine and Army guys, from the Air Force. But there's two rules:  one is no killing during the smash and grab. Frank penetrates the defenses and smiles when he see the weapon. The Air Force guards continue to try and stop him but eyes glow through the smoke. There he stands in Col Rhodes' familiar armor as War Machine.
   Rule number 2 is to give it back to Fury after the mission. As he blasts off, that particular rule looks like it's gonna be a little hard to follow. What happens next through will have to wait, as this issue is left to be continued.

Frank manages to make the War Machine armor look scarier.

   I followed this series a pretty good bit for it's first year but eventually got fed up with Becky Cloonan's writing. She didn't seem to have any interest developing the character. Just extremely simple stories that was basically just bad gore. The art was also poor to me and couldn't keep my interest whatsoever. It was pointed out to me that with Marvel Legacy, they switched creative teams... and I couldn't be happier. This issue started off Cloonan like, but by the middle and end have proven that it's anything like it was. The Punisher. With War Machine Armor?! Where has this story been all those years? I can't wait to see where this goes.. I give this one a 9/10.

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