Astonishing X-Men #3

LIFE OF X pt III

Written by Charles Soule

Penciled by Ed McGuinness
Cover by Ed McGuinness
Published Sept 6, 2017

   After stepping through the Shadow King's door, Logan painstakingly climbs an ice mountain. All the while replaying the murders he's committed in his other timeline, he slips only to catch hold again. The X-Men want him to be Wolverine but that's all behind him. 

I thought he was supposed to be an old man...

   Meanwhile in London, the metropolitan police orders the team to surrender. Only problem is that Psylocke works to keep the connection to the X-Men on the astral plane. Bishop and Angel discuss ways to reason with them when Angel flies out to have a chat with the helicopter pilot.
   Back in another world, Logan squares off with the Samurai before walking through them. He knows Farouk's tricks. At the chessboard, the Shadow King is almost impressed. Professor X explains that his weapons are his will. He wants to win but he NEEDS to suffer. Logan continues to walk, even going past Charles who knocks him back. He wants to speak with him, but Logan is certain it's just another trick.

This art reminds me of that old school Frank Miller stuff.

   In our world, the troops in the helicopter attempt to subdue Warren, but accidentally hurt him in the process, nearly triggering the Archangel. He overcomes it and offers himself as a hostage to explain what his teammate is doing. Back on the Astral Plane, Logan keeps walking and ignoring Charles' pleas to stop. The other X-Men are falling victim to Farouk's illusions. Logan is different. Charles explains that he's tricking Farouk into not being able to see their conversation, If he must, he will battle his old mutant student.

   They fight. Charles can't reach him. The illusion and supposed loss of Logan withers Charles' hand and the Shadow King claims the round. The issue wraps back in London. Angel's request has been granted. The X-Men talk with the London police but not for long. Logan stabs the police through the back with black, shadow eyes. The stakes have just gotten substantially higher, however we're left to be continued.

Dang that smarts...

   Now that we live in the post-Wolverine Old Man Logan era, anytime a writer has a chance to cameo him in his old costume, they take it. That's strange to me. While the character is awesome in that post apocalyptic way, it's obvious that the audience clamors for one of the most legendary comic book characters of all time. How long can they keep him out of the costume? Either way, this was an awesome issue, not only highlighting how much we miss Wolverine but how much we miss Professor X as well. I'd love for this to be the beginning of both of their returns. Guess there's only one way to find out. I give this one a 10/10.

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All New Guardians of the Galaxy #9

SHATTERED

Written by Gerry Duggan

Penciled by Mike Hawthorne
Cover by Aaron Kuder
Published Sept 6 2017

   Groot and Rocket land on Stohlad to visit a shady market, seeking info from a vendor about the layout of a Citopian bank vault. Shortly after their conversation, the pressure changes. A cloaked figure teleports in, killing the shopkeeper and subsequently getting shot at by Rocket. The reaper swings his sickle at the raccoon but Groot takes a blade in the arm to protect him. In the ruckus, Rocket is knocked unconscious. 

Time for a nap!

   The tree fights back and with his companion by the tail, makes his escape to the waiting vehicle. He places Rocket back in the ship, and as he wakes up, Groot tells him "You are Groot". He couldn't move. Rooted into the ground, he engages Rocket's autopilot and the ship hovers above. Watching as his best friend dies with a smile on his face, he shoots into outer space in tears.

This page kinda had me like "dang..."

   Meanwhile back on the planet, the cloaked figure picks up what's left of the shredded Groot. He's known as the gardener, and as he painfully grinds the flora into pieces, he teleports away. On Rocket's ship, he pounds the console until he notices the tiny splinter. A wilting shard of his friend remains. He lands the ship and runs past Quill, finding a planter and some dirt. With tweezers, he plants what's left of Groot with a promise to nurse him to health as well as for revenge for hurting him so badly.

Oh we'll get you back, robe man.

   The issue ends zooming into rockets eye and into a tiny camera lens. The spineless urchin Mojo addresses the viewers of his twisted Mojoverse, lauding the most recent program he's been able to offer. He tells the audience he'll be right back after these messages, and with that we're left to be continued.

YES! Old School! WHERE'S LONGSHOT?!

   Finally it's revealed as to what happened to Groot - to make him so tiny. While it's a little different than what was portrayed in the movie, it was still pretty good - opening the door for several tiny evil Groots to make their appearance... as well as the return of one of my favorite Marvel villains of all time - Mojo. This was a pretty awesome book - art was crisp as we see Gerry Duggan unite with his longtime Deadpool partner Make Hawthorne. And a good continued setup for the series to return to it's original numbering. I give this one a 10/10.

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Star Wars #35

THE HUTT RUN

Written by Jason Aaron
Penciled by Salvador Larocca
Cover by Mike Mayhew
Published Aug 30 2017

   After rescuing the princess and being roped into the rebellion, Han Solo can't believe he's still around. But this time, Mon Mothma has just the mission for him. A smuggling mission. Only problem is the cargo... Grakkus the Hutt. He could be a valuable asset. All he needs to do is get him to the secret holding facility in Akiva. And the sooner they could end this war, the better.

WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!

   And so, Chewie and Han Solo ride with their Hutt cargo. The trio has some choice words with each other, mainly the Wookie threatening to tear the Hutt's limbs off. He keeps talking when suddenly they're intercepted by tie fighters.. They plan an escape when Grakkus "accidentally" disables their hyperdrive. While they argue, the fighters fire on the Millennium Falcon.

Pew. Pew...

   Grakkus keeps blabbing, telling Han he's blinded by the adulation and is blind to missing the smuggling life. He can give Solo all that back and more if he just lets him go. As their surrounded, he surrenders. Though he isn't giving up - he IS giving up Grakkus the Hutt.
   The troops board the ship and the Hutt eventually gains control of them, smashing one of their skulls. Before they can make another move, Han and Chewie blast them as well. Finally with the immediate threat neutralized, the Grakkus again asks about his proposal. Han again refuses, and this time the massive beast is a little more angry about it. He demands Chewie bring them to Teth, a planet where he's primed to again return to power. Han tells him that's enough and barks out a code.

Level Three? So that's just like the introductory level..?

   Grakkus is shocked as Han asks if General Draven got it all. It was all a ruse to get him to reveal the location. Before they even left the rebel fleet, the Hutt's guards slipped a shocker device in his leg restraints. Han knew that even with interrogation, he'd never give up the information. But they all have one little weakness... Arrogance. With Grakkus laying on the floor out cold, the Falcon sets a course for Akiva.
   The issue wraps with a platoon about to storm a chamber in a star cruiser. A dangerous droid waits on the other side of the door. They make plans to kill him and we see R2D2 speeding away. With that, this issue is left to be continued.

RUN AWAY!

   It's been a while since this book focused back on the man, the myth, the legend Han Solo. Sure you could focus on the book actually starring him but I don't really have time to spend on too many Star Wars books. This was a good issue. Han Solo did indeed eventually wear his role with the rebels with a little higher regard and it's cool to spotlight that. I give this one an 8/10.

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Batman #30

THE BALLAD OF KITE MAN pt II

Written by Tom King

Penciled by Clay Mann
Cover by Mikel Janin
Published Sept 6, 2017

   Kite Man meets with the Tweedles with orders from Joker fight Batman in Riddler territory. The problem is that now, batman has apparently joined the Riddler faction. He defeats them all handedly and hangs Kite Man outside on the Joker's theater. When told of the defeat, he beats Kite Man with a chair, and that's sadly where the conversation with his son begins...  

No love for Kite Man

   Later he meets with the Ventriloquist, also defeated and stripped of his dummy. He flies high with Man Bat giving air support but Man Bat is struck down by the Batwing. Later he kneels on a bridge with a gun to his head while Two Face argues with himself about why he shouldn't kill him. He's systematically beaten at every turn while the sad inner monologue plays about his son thinking he's a joke.

Not Pictured: Two Face

   He meets with Cluemaster and they hatch a plan to get out of the war. It of course fails at the hands of Scarecrow. Again he lies beaten on the side of the road, picking himself up off the pavement as the conversation sadly plays. He and Mr. Freeze work together to take on Riddler but they're again beaten by Batman. The Mad Hatter and he try something but again, they're foiled. Finally he sits in the Joker's theater as the madman addresses the audience as the triumphant side, but there he sits all alone.

Kite Man. Party of One.

   The issue ends with yet another brutal beating. Batman punches him again and again. He finally sits in what I assume is a police station interrogation room and the conversation lingers as he cries and puts his head on the table... a completely broken man. There the Riddler and Batman tell him the war is over. Even after he killed Kite Man's son, he'd still squeal. Because in the end he's Kite Man.. And with that, this insanely depressing issue comes to a close.

...because you're Kite Man.

   Geez, if this isn't the saddest and most disturbing book I've read in a long time, I don't know what is. Tom King is becoming the King... pardon of the pun.. of the dark knight.. But they should call him Dark King, because this takes the cake as the most maniacal and dark that Batman has gotten in a long time. I don't know how many interludes this arc can have but I'm about ready for them to end. And in fact, if it ends here, it ends on a high note. I give this one a 10/10.

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X-Men Blue #10

TOIL AND TROUBLE pt 1

Written by Cullen Bunn
Penciled by Giovanni Valletta
Cover by Arthur Adams
Published August 30, 2017

   A troubled Hank meets with former Raksha soothsayer Gazing Nightshade in Madripoor about his self doubt. She tells him the guilt he feels is because of the secrets he keeps from his friends. He eventually rises to leave and is confronted in the alley. His newest cohort, the Goblin Queen, reminds him he has a lot more training to do.

I could get past everything but the horns. They're a little much...

   Back home, young Bobby trains for quite a while with resident X-baby sitter, Danger. His skills have grown but his lovelife still manages to keep him off his game. Elsewhere in the mansion, Magneto meets with his daughter Polaris with a challenge for him. He needs someone to council him in case he goes out of control, a challenge his daughter eagerly accepts. 

Everybody knows Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, so Polaris has a right to have some Daddy issues...

   Outside in the gardens, young Scott and Jean continue to explore their new mindlink, a new talent which obviously causes some anxiety between a few teenagers. While several states away, Angel and Jimmy Hudson embark on a trip back to Colorado. Fortunately the sheriff from when he made his re-emergence knows which direction to point him in.
   Beast and the Goblin Queen continue sticking their talents where they don't belong, eventually turning Hank into a true beast. Lightning fills the mansion, sending the X-Men running after the source. Out in the gardens, Scott and Jean deal with jealousy before they draw close. It's interrupted though as a demonic monster protrudes from the nearby mansion's roof.

It's... happening.... Oh wait. What dis?!

   The issue ends with them rushing inside. Scott blames Hank and his magic when there she stands. Madeline Pryor assembles her demon version of the X-Men, cleverly calling them the "Hex-Men" and Cyclops and Marvel Girl try to reach their knocked out teammates. They look to have a battle on their hands but it'll have to wait as this issue is left to be continued.

The "Hex-Men". Another X book coming soon to Marvel Comics.

   With another battle with the Goblin Queen imminent, Cullen Bunn continues to rehash old enemies for new versions of the old X-Men, and you know what? I'm not even mad. With the soon return to many of Marvel's Legacy era superheroes, now is as good a time as any to do it. Updating original battles in lieu of merely creating more and more newer characters makes the series exciting. I give this one a 9/10.

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Deadpool #35

KARMA POLICE

Written by Gerry Duggan

Penciled by Mike Hawthorne
Cover by David Lopez
Published August 30, 2017

   Captain America drops some Wu-Tang and Ice Cube lyrics in front of a class full of children before warning them all to leave the war hero Deadpool's daughter Ellie Preston alone. Walking out, former SHIELD director Maria Hill puts a bullet in him. Only problem is that it turns out to be Wade wearing a disguise. 

Heeeeey! It's just me!

She shoots him again for Preston, for Coulson and any other SHIELD agents he murdered. He accuses her of starting the Secret Empire because of Pleasant Hill. After a wayward grenade destroy's the principal's car, she takes off running and escapes into a parking garage.
   Deadpool tracks her down and she runs him over with a van filled with explosives.

This one panel could actually be the entire plot of one of Becky Cloonan's Punisher books.

 Finally after pinning him under it, she agrees to have a conversation. He knows where Blackout is. She asks if it's true he killed Preston and Coulson. His silence condemns him, and she leaves to move on the Blackout lead leaving him pinned behind. She triggers the bomb and the parking garage explodes behind her.

Maria Hill: Gangsta!

   Later, firetrucks arrive on the scene and douse the bombsite with water. As they talk it being solely a recovery, Deadpool is emotionally torn. The only one he wanted to protect was Ellie, and she eventually leaves the locked apartment that now is out of the supplies he'd left for her. Meanwhile the dome over Manhattan has fallen. Secret Empire is over. Deadpool flashes back to one of the greatest things that ever happened to him. With Coulson and Preston at his side, he took up the mantle. He was a real live Avenger...
   The issue wraps with Wade drowning his sorrows at a bar. Hearing Captain America welcome him to the team was one of the highlights of his life. Now he picks up the pieces. What will come next? We'll have to wait as this issue is concluded.

I'd probably be boozing it pretty hard too...

   It was only a matter of time for Deadpool to return to his villainous ways. To be honest, it never really felt right making him an Avenger in the first place. Still, it's a sad way to end his stint with Earth's mightiest heroes. Murdering his friends under the tutelage of the man he worshiped. He deserves his revenge. I'm sure he'll get it one day. For this one, I give it a 9/10.

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Uncanny Avengers #26

INSIDE, OUTSIDE, AND UPSIDE DOWN

Written by Jim Zub
Penciled by Sean Izaakse
Cover by RB Silva
Published Aug 30 2017

   A possessed Scarlet Witch fought in Captain America's Hydra army, with her brother Quicksilver fighting to save her. Now Wanda has returned, and although she's able to convince her brother she's back to normal, she needs people to trust her. Only problem is some members of the newly-disbanded Unity Squad are less forgiving than others.

Rogue: No. Everybody else: Yeah.

    Rogue clearly has a problem with her and Johnny Storm works to diffuse her apprehensions. Voodoo can relate after being possessed himself but Rogue sticks to her guns. In the end, she has the votes and is welcomed to stay.
   That night, Human Torch sneaks in Rogue's room to check on her and make sure she's ok. She talks about how their squatting in the former Avengers mansion while a witch is moving in to bust up her family. He tells her it's obviously under strange circumstances but Cap had been compromised. It's nobody's fault.

Pillow Talk

 In an adjacent room, Scarlet Witch and Jericho talk which leads to Wanda putting the moves on him. He pulls some deep pimp action and starts working some wizard game when suddenly, they're floating in the air. Wanda snores away while Rogue and Johnny are equally launched into the air and freaking out. Synapse and Quicksilver ready themselves and there stands an old foe... Gravitron.

I remember the Gravitron from the State Fair. Didn't look like that...

   He's had a revelation. And although Human Torch tries to fight back, he's quickly incapacitated. All of the other supervillains and their schemes and machinations are meaningless. True power lied with the Cosmic Cube. Rogue tells him they don't have it but he tells her that's not the point. He intends to show the whole world how meaningless how everything can be. 

I must have the ring.. er.. the cube!

   Wanda has heard enough. She tells the villain enough boasting, but is quickly shot into the atmosphere. As she floats in orbit, the un-Avengers look to have met a rather well matched foe. How will they defeat him? We'll have to wait till next time as this issue is left to be continued.
   Gerry Duggan did such a great job on this book that he left a pretty big hole to fill. Now a few issues in, Jim Zub is reaching a milestone as his own arcs develop. In a post Deadpool Unity Squad, he's doing an ok job. Was Scarlet Witch an adequate substitution for Duggan's favorite character ever? She's an Avenger. So probably so. I give this one an 8/10.

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