Cable #158-159

PAST FEARS pts IV and V

Written by Lonnie Nader and Zac Thompson
Penciled by German Peralta
Covers by Daniel Warren Johnston
Published June 20 and July 18, 2018

   As a boy, Cable again runs from demons he see’s far in advance. Decades later, he prepares to practice with his then new X-Force team. His incredible upgrades to the team’s danger room is impressive, even when forced to deal with the merc with a mouth, Deadpool. They eventually defeat him, but are shocked when they see a reanimated Warlock. The problem is that this isn’t a drill - Metus, Cable’s forever stalking techno virus has caught up with him once again.

By the way, guys. This is real.

   Warlock takes it to the untrained group until Cable is finally able to get into the chamber to help them. There's something familiar about the boys face it displays though. After the situation is dealt with and the team licks it’s wounds, he fails to disclose to his students just what exactly is going on.

Don't worry about it. I got it under control... Really. I do.

   2000 years in the future, young Nathan walks with his friends once again when they mock his cybernetic arm but a fellow mutant friend takes up for him. As he ventures back home, he overhears his parents Cyclops and Jean discussing his Apocalypse defeating future. He runs away but as fear begins to spread, the virus takes hold for the first time.

Out in those damn woods again.

   Alone in the woods, he tries to deal with his newfound problem alone when Metus, the boy who took up for him, is attacked by the cybernetic appendage. The monster writhes in agony, hurting his friend as well as himself in the process.

"I think we're alone now... NOT!"

   He eventually calls for help, and his parents run to his aid to defeat it. Later, Metus limps home and is contrastingly rejected by his mutant hating parents. He vows to hunt Cable down all through time to repay him for the infection.

It'll be my life's work!

   The issue wraps in the present. Cable and Hope use their telekinesis together to finally expel the virus from the boy. What they're left with is an innocent child who's now an orphan. Cable and Hope bodyslide with the boy and teleport him to the X-Mansion in New York. With that, Cable is finally able to move on as this issue and story arc come to a final conclusion.

I'll bring you to a place where more people can make fun of you.

   You know, one of the cooler thing about these two writers is that they coincidentally reference an era that comics were so big in my life. They seem to have a connection to the Liefield X-Force days and they're not afraid to shed light on it pretty constantly. That's a great thing if you're an older reader like me. German Peralta's artwork isn't necessarily groundbreaking but it's certainly on par with what's in Marvel's stable at the moment. I live what they have going on here... I give these two books a 9/10.

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X-Men Blue #29-30

THE SEARCH FOR JIMMY HUDSON
pts I and II

Written by Cullen Bunn
Penciled by Nathan Stockman
Covers by RB Silva
Published June 13 and June 27, 2018

   After the events of Venomaized, Jimmy Hudson freaks out in a California bar over bad memories, and his Poison alter ego appears. He kills everyone and runs away, only to be caught in the woods by the X-Men. They each cautiously approach as Jean tries her best to connect with the displaced mutant. They soon have their hands full though, as Jimmy's poison form nearly counters their every move.

Something about that guy just looks familiar.

   Eventually Beast makes the call to exterminate him, but even that move is one the son of Wolverine is able to resist. As Jimmy battles the inner demons, he's able to pause for a second... Just long enough for Daken to run him through with a sword with news that Magneto sends his regards.

Magneto watches Game of Thrones? Cool!

   What happens next is one of the most epic battles imaginable. The X-Men fight the former Weapon X candidate as he does his best to kill Jimmy Hudson. Its claw for claw one of the bloodiest the young Blue team has probably ever seen. Finally with Iceman's help, they freeze the two long enough for Jean to get a grip on him psychically. 

Scott's jelly.

   The two walk into the woods to talk. Against Daken's warning, they set the mutant free to piece himself back together .. Just like Jean had to do it. The issue ends with Daken talking about Magneto's new list. Predictably, and this is a real shocker but he's bad again. As far as what happens next, we'll have to wait to find out, as this issue and story arc is left to be continued.

YOU'LL ALL BE SORRY!!!

   As this series drifts further and further to it's conclusion, it's clear that Cullen Bunn is starting to mail it in more than ever. That's ok though - because even at his worst, this series is still light years ahead of the other X-Color books. On the horizon as it's eventual successor awaits the Uncanny X-Men, now to be written again by the legendary Chris Claremont. Pretty good time to be an X-Men fan. I give these two issues a 9/10.

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Thor #1-3

Written by Jason Aaron
Penciled by Mike Del Mundo
Covers by Mike Del Mundo
Published June 13, June 27 and July 18, 2018

   Thor finds himself in Thailand trying to steal back the Warlock's Eye. But the Cytorrakian champion, Juggernaut stands in his way. Thor is beaten up, breaking hammer after hammer until the troll at the forge sends them all to him. He eventually hits Marko with the right one and returns to Old Asgard.

Direct hit!

   Thor reconvenes with the blinded Heimdall and his father Odin before returning to Midguard to see formed Thor, Jane Foster. He also meets his mother Lady Freyja as she tends to the beaten and broken Volstagg. Again he leaves to find the many missing trinkets of Asgard when eventually he comes upon his brother, Loki.

Oh hey, you!

   It appears Malekith continues the war on the realms but Loki has an idea. They teleport to Niffleheim and are reunited with all of the dead Odinson brothers. It appears that Queen Sindr fights to claim all of Hel for her own. What comes next is a battle for the ages, as Balder the Brave, Skurge, Thori, Loki and Thor reunite with Karnilla to fight the fire demons.

We haven't seen Carnilla since that big tree died.

   Elsewhere Sindr equally assembles her army. Meanwhile the Odin brothers discuss a secret weapon they have that can unleash hell, pardon the pun, on the demon queen. While they move to disrupt a goblin train bound full of goods, they reveal what that secret weapon is - Thor's niece Hela and his dog-like nephew Fenris leap from the water. 

Mornin', boys!

   Their mini-fight is brief, as before long they all realize that fighting each other virtually ensures a victory for Sindr. So they do the next best thing - stage a wedding that unites Balder and Hela's tribes. Still, Thor confides in his brother that it still won't be enough.

"Bad news. You need to kill Thor."
"Well... what's the bad news?!"

   There's one last group to try and lobby - the Valkyries. The only way to get there though is through death. Just as Hela and Balder say their vows, Loki kills Thor, though this time with his permission. He walks towards the gates of Valhalla and tries to lobby the goddesses to his side. He'll have to be quick though. Back in Hel, not only do the Odin brothers plan to execute Loki, the mad Titan Thanos has approached to have a word with the groom. What'll happen next? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

I haven't been in enough comics lately. Might as well invade this one too.

   So I'm a Thor fan just as much as the next guy, but if there's one thing I've noticed Jason Aaron being in this series for the last few go rounds, it's wordy. Nothing like norse word after norse word, and bloody battles and mead and Valhalla and all that, to get the blood flowing. He picks up right where he left off and in my opinion, that's a great thing. I give these three books a 10/10.

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Old Man Logan #41-42

LOGAN THE HUNTED pts I and II

Written by Ed Brisson
Penciled by Francesco Manna
Covers by Mike Deodato Jr
Published June 13 and June 27, 2018

   Logan fights some familiar foes in his old watering hole. But as they fight, they goad him outside where he’s tranquilized. When he wakes up, he’s in a cage and there in front of him stands Kraven The Hunter. Apparently now his next trophy hunt, Logan drops out of a plane and into the good old Savage Land.

Back in the savage again...

   Kraven orders his pilot to return and sets off, immediately finding evidence of the berserker. As Logan presses forward, he runs into the hunter. Kraven gets the upper hand and cuts through the bone on Logan’s hand. Forced to deal with a wounded raptor, Kraven runs him through while a heavily bleeding Logan shirks away. He finds a cave to rest in, and as he slowly heals, drifts away into a dream.

"It's the creepy eye, dad. It actually looks creepier than ours..."

   Logan is back in the Wastelands with his family. It’s clear he longs for them more and more, but they tell him he can’t come back to them like this. When he awakes, Kraven has found him again. The battle continues, this time with the old man getting the upper hand. He pounds away until he realizes he’s won and the hunter isn’t worth the effort.

Snap. Crackle. Pop. Snikt!

   When he walks away, Ka-Zar the hunter waits for him outside the cave. Logan tells his old friend that Kraven is his problem now and ventures back to his plane. After a little convincing, the pilot takes off. As he rides in the cargo hold, Logan ponders his return home. It’s time to find his way back. How he gets there - we’ll have to wait, as this story arc comes to a conclusion.

Time to go home, Maureen.

   I saw a few weeks ago that this series has been cancelled and will end with issue #50. With the return of Logan’s younger alter ego, this doesn’t really come as a surprise. And 50 books is a pretty decent run with a character I don’t think anyone saw as being a true replacement for everyone’s favorite X-Man. It’s a little bitter sweet. I picked this book up shortly after my youngest kiddo was born and I was immediately smitten with the series. These two issues continued the tradition of a well written arc and pretty decent artwork to boot. I give these two an 8/10.

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X-Men Gold #29-30

TIL DEATH DO US PART pts IV and V

Written by Marc Guggenheim
Penciled by David Marquez
Covers by Phil Noto
Published June 6 June 20, 2018

   Aboard the Roxxon Oil Space Platform, the X-Men storm towards Colossus just as Alpha releases the X-Gene weapon. The sentinel dissipates into nanites as while Storm hurdles towards the bombs to stop them. 

Don't worry, everyone. Storm's on it with this VERY convenient hammer she came across.

   Alpha Flight and Pyro also work to stop the bombs while Colossus uses the last of his strength to free the X-Men's ship. They manage to leave the station just in time as Iceman freezes Alpha down below. With the threats neutralized, it's finally time for Kitty and Piotr to get married.

Ok, that's out of the way. Now it's go time.

   The rehearsal dinner goes off without a hitch. Even Kitty's Shadowcat era dragon Lockheed makes an appearance before the bride and Illyana Rasputin sneak away for a talk. Drunkenly, Magik tells her oldest friend that she thinks if it was meant to be, their marriage should have happened by now, a thought that clearly has Kitty confused.

Geez, Magik. Tell her how you REALLY feel...

   The next day, preparations continue. Even Wolverine watches from afar, careful not to blow his cover. From the skies above, Storm provides amazing weather while below, Illyana confesses to Rogue that she fears she's sowed some doubt in Kitty.

"Hey Rogue... So I think I might have ruined everything..."

   The music starts and Kitty Pryde makes her procession down the isle. They speak their vows among memories of long odds that could have kept them apart. Finally, Colossus slides on her ring but without warning, her hand phases through his. Everyone is completely shocked as an embarrassed Kitty phases through the ground and Nightcrawler bamfs his best friend away from the awkward situation.

This doesn't seem to happen at most weddings.

   Later at the party, the two get a chance to breakaway and talk. Maybe marriage isn't the answer for some reason for these two... for whatever reason. But apparently who it IS for is Rogue and Gambit. He proposes on one knee and the two are whisked away into an impromptu wedding. Because I mean... why not completely change up a five issue arc in 10 pages? With that, this issue comes to a close but the story of Mr and Mrs X is just beginning.

I did NOT see that coming.

   So after a long teaser for a new classified X series, it’s revealed to be... a new Uncanny X-Men? No. A new series featuring the return of Wolverine? No... It’s .. Mr and Mrs X?! Obviously that’s beyond disappointing and if this new series makes it to 12 issues, I’ll be completely amazed. Either way, there are some hints of a new Uncanny coming back at some point and I’ll take what I can get. As far as these latest issues, it’s clear Marc Guggenheim is turning a point that could finally turn these books into something... right around news of their cancellations. With just a few more books left, I give these two an improved 8/10.

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Star Wars #49

MUTINY AT MON CALA pt VI

Written by Kieron Gillian
Penciled by Salvador Larroca
Cover by David Marquez
Published June 6, 2018

   As imperial forces float above Mon Cala, the rebels try to figure out how to breach the blockade. Luckily the regent reveals to Leia he contacted more rebel forces before the empire showed up, and Ackbar as well as scores of X-Wings show up to fight.

"ACKBAR UP IN THIS BIZZZNATCH!"

   With lasers blasting, it's all hands on deck. Everyone does their parts, including Luke's old pilot buddy Wedge. Meanwhile Admiral Ackbar speaks to fellow Mon Calan, Captain Lila. Though she's piloting her vessel mostly solo, she drifts her freighter filled with explosive coaxium, blowing a massive hole in the imperial destroyer and breaching the blockade..

"I'm sorry, Admiral... We didn't hear your last transmission clearly, but did you say 'YEEEEEEAH, ACKBAR'S BIZZNATCH UP IN HERE DOING WORK, SON!"???

   The rebels all zip away in hyperspace. Unfortunately the regent pays a price for rebelling, but the sacrifice allows the rebellion to fight another day. Months later, they toast their new fleet aboard Queen Trios's ship. Unfortunately for them all, Trios has decided to repatriate. She informs Darth Vader of the rebels and their new ships. What's gonna happen next? We'll have to wait to find out as this issue is left to be continued.

I have this same painting in my house. What a coindink!

   So finally after a six part story arc, the rebels have their brand new fleet of spaceships to fight the empire with. It's not all that surprising that former traitor Queen Trios would be a traitor again... Obviously in Star Wars, that's clearly nothing new. And yeah, I'm looking at you, Lando. But I'm super excited to see Vader plan to make another appearance in this flagship book. All things aside, this was a fantastic issue. I give it a 9/10.

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Infinity Countdown #4-5

Written by Gerry Duggan

Penciled by Aaron Kuder and Mike Hawthorne
Covers by Nick Bradshaw
Published June 6 and July 18, 2018

   The Guardians of the Galaxy return to Knowhere with the Power Stone as Rich Rider leaves to search for his brother Robbie. Eve with the Nova Corps demands the infinity stone but is rebuffed, with it finally resting in Drax's and then Peter's possession.

Gimme dat rock!

   Suddenly Peter Quill is called out to by Cosmo. The Collector and Grandmaster have an inert stone of their own, but their meeting is interrupted by Phyla. She demands it be returned, as it's been hidden in this dimension erroneously. 

Fake infinity stone probs.

   Meanwhile on the planet Saiph, Warlock and Ultron fight, who launches scores of nuclear missiles, which are then very luckily destroyed by the Silver Surfer. They're further interrupted by Galactus, who eats the planet as Ultron runs away. Before he escapes though, Warlock is able to get the Soul Stone from him.

Thanks for the infinity stone, surfer. Sorry your life is shitty now.

   Back on Earth, Time Stone holder Doctor Strange is approached by Space Stone holder Black Widow. He sets off to find Turk Barrett, current possessor of the Mind Stone. The gangster uses a diversion to escape. He returns to the Sanctum and refuses Natasha's offer to take her infinity stone off her hands. 

"No thanks, Nat. More Stones, more problems..."

   The Guardians land on the junk planet Oblitus and soon meet up with Warlock and Kang the Conqueror. Gamora demands the Soul Stone from him to make herself whole again, but in their skirmish it ends up in Drax's hands. He sees a terrible vision, and agrees to go with Kang and Adam to make sure nobody ever opens it again. Beaten, she feels betrayed by her former teammates and storms away to continue her never-ending, relentless search.

Catch you losers on the flip.

   The issue wraps with Doctor Strange summoning a gathering of the Infinity Watch. It reverberates around the universe, warning each gem holders of a dangerous threat. The mad titan Thanos plans once more to get all of them... you know... for the millionth time. What happens next? We're left to find out in Infinity Wars as this series comes to a final conclusion.

"I'm so hot right now..."

   So by this point, the Guardians of the Galaxy jumping from volumes to volumes, to series to titles and so forth isn't really anything new. After this we're onto Infinity Wars Prime - which will be followed by Infinity Wars, which will be followed by Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 50 bajillion. The powers that be finally got it right with the legacy numbering only to just screw it up again. But the good thing is... that's the ONLY thing I have to complain about. Because this series is good. The writing is fantastic and the art is great too. I'm sad to see it all end but look forward to seeing where it goes. I give these two books a 10/10.

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