x-men | Comic Reviews by Walt

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Marvel Now: All-New X-Men #s 2-5

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Walt

Of all of the Marvel Now books, All-New X-Men has been by far my favorite. I enjoyed the first issue quite a bit, and from the second issue on, the ride’s kept moving at a nice pace–other than the $3.99 price point, I’m actually quite enjoying the double-shipping.

The issue by issue pacing has been a little quick…I’m glad to get into the story more, but I do wish the single issues had a bit more content to them.

The preview that so thoroughly hooked me for the first issue had turned out to be the final several pages of the issue–a little disappointing, but it left me eager for #2. Getting into the second issue was a real treat–the writing is a definite “hit” for me from Bendis, and the art’s been thoroughly enjoyable. Seeing the younger X-Men in the present and the reactions–theirs as well as the adults–worked very well…especially Wolverine’s reaction to Jean (and vice versa).

The third issue almost seems likely to be a backdoor pilot for Uncanny X-Men; though I have no complaint about the issue having a good look at Cyclops, Magneto, and their group…except it seemed a bit out of place after the first two issues–almost like it should’ve been something else. As a single issue, it sticks out; but the inevitable “graphic novel” collected edition will probably read just fine with the pacing.

The fourth issue finally sees the intended consequence of the original X-Men being brought forward in time as Cyclops is stunned by their presence and tries to figure out what happened. And of course, the fifth issue seems to bring the first arc to a loose close, while solidifying the status quo.

And as has been all over the place, the fifth issue sees the Beast’s Next Mutation, which–after something like 11 years of getting used to “feline-Beast” is rather jarring and not much to my liking.

As said above–I’m really digging Immonen‘s art, and the rest of the art team is doing a superb job with giving a great-looking issue each time out. I’ve yet to sit down and re-read the whole arc, but everything’s fit pretty well together visually.

The very concept of this title should leave me disliking it, but this is the original X-Men I read at the start of my freshman year of college in an Essential volume, meeting up with the present-day X-Men after 20 years I’ve followed them to some degree or another. And while the high concept shouldn’t seem to be sustainable–I once said that Lost, Prison Break, and Castle didn’t seem like [tv] series that should go beyond one season, so I’m open to seeing what’s done with this.

And with Bendis on the book, hopefully we get to see at least a couple years of this title, if not a good long run in general with something old bringing something new to the contemporary Marvel Universe.

Filed under: All-New X-Men, MARVEL, Marvel Now!, Marvel Universe | Tagged: All New X-Men, Beast, bendis, Cyclops, Immonen, MARVEL, Mavel Now, x-men | 1 Comment »

My Failure to Avoid Marvel Now

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Walt

Considering I had planned to simply finish out AvX last year and call it quits for a time with Marvel, they’ve done a great job of keeping me despite that, with this whole Marvel Now initiative.

In fact, at least as far as its impact on me–I’d say the thing’s a huge success.

I didn’t want to buy anything Marvel Now. I didn’t want to be interested. I WANTED the jumping-off point. I was truly looking forward to the excuse to pare back to simply Valiant and TMNT for a few months.

But I read that darned preview of All-New X-Men, and it hooked me. And I decided to read that first issue of A+X. And the two titles proved a slippery slope into a chunk of Marvel Now for me.

At the beginning of December, I thought Cable and X-Force was due out that week. As I was visiting a friend in Alabama, the only comic shop I had access to was one we found via the Comic Shop Locator Service, and Cable and X-Force was not with the new issues. So, in part due to it being only $2.99, I picked up Thunderbolts #1.

A couple weeks ago, my local comic shop put a bunch of Marvel Now issues out on the rack for $1/apiece as “overstock,” so I picked up X-Men Legacy #s 1-2, Avengers Arena #1, and FF #1 to try. For $1 (or 99-cents) I’ll give most any full-size issue a try (I even have a standing order alongside my pull list for $1-and-under specials to be pulled).

While hunting for Avenging Spider-Man #15.1 a couple weeks back, I wound up buying Avengers #s 1-2 to more than meet a $5 minimum purchase for paying with a card at one shop, and then with a slow week last week went ahead and bought New Avengers #1 and X-Men Legacy #3.

I’m looking forward to trying Uncanny X-Force #1 for the writing–I’ve enjoyed Humphries‘ Higher Earth, and with that ending figure I’ll give his UXF a shot. I’m also looking forward to an Uncanny X-Men focused on Cyclops and Magneto. Despite myself, I even enjoyed FF enough that–as a $2.99 book–I may look for other issues soon.

The trouble, unfortunately, is that most of these books are $3.99; as are upcoming ones.

Two new Avengers books and they don’t even seem to be set in the same continuity, let alone in the same continuity as what I think I’ve observed with the Captain America book.

As of present, I’ve tried at least the first issue of 9 titles, with Uncanny X-Force and Superior Spider-Man #1s both forthcoming yet, which will put me up to 11. Toss in the pending Uncanny X-Men and apparently a Wolverine title (not Savage Wolverine), and across a few months Marvel‘s got me at about half the number of books I tried with DC‘s New 52 relaunch. Spread out like this, though…it feels like there’s more room to “breathe” and actually try different titles without being overwhelmed.

Which, in the end seems to be what they were going for, “learning” from DC‘s putting out 52 new titles in one month.

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: A+X, All New X-Men, avengers, cable, FF, Legacy, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Marvel Now, New Avengers, Thunderbolts, x-force, x-men | Leave a comment »

Non-’90s Bargain-bin Finds

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Walt

Usually when hitting the bargain bins, I’m grabbing ’90s stuff. Mostly DC and Marvel, and other randomish stuff. But this time, I found some stuff much more recent, from just the last several years, that totally made my day to find.

First, I was surprised to discover several TPBs in the 25-cent bins–so much so that I actually asked if they were supposed to be in there. I recall seeing this Turok book a few years ago, but $14.95 seemed too steep for what it is. Of course, for 25-cents it’s an awesome purchase. The Sigil books are quite worthwhile at the price as well–one for me, one for a friend.

While I’ve refused to pay $3.99 for certain comics, I can’t deny my interest in the Regenesis phase of X-Men stuff. I’ve told myself for awhile I’d backtrack via bargain-bins…I just expected $1-bins, so 25-cent bins I will definitely take advantage!

I have several gaping holes in my X-Men run, that this bunch begins to plug, though just barely. I missed a few years where I was all but unaware of what was going on in this title; I’ve since caught up a bit (a couple of these issues I bought digitally during a comiXology sale a couple months back), but again…25-cents is a steal for issues so recent.

I saw a set of these four Magneto issues at another comic shop a few weeks back–while I don’t recall the price, I think it was around $16…I thought these were $3.99 issues but looking now, they’re priced at $2.99 (further example of Marvel losing up-front sales from me for “training” me to believe anything they put out is more likely $3.99!). I’ve been interested in the title, and my waiting has CERTAINLY paid off here.

Finally, I grabbed the two issues of X-Men Legacy I saw, and for 25-cents can afford to try The First X-Men (heck, if it still has the download code, that alone is “worth” the 25-cents!).

The entire bargain-bin haul for the week barely cost me what any two issues would have cost me new off the rack as recently as this past summer.

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: bargain bins, comics, magneto, Magneto Not a Hero, MARVEL, Regenesis, Sigil, Turok, Uncanny X-Men, x-men, X-Men: Legacy | Leave a comment »

The Price Really Does Affect The Purchase

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Walt

The price of a comic really does affect the purchase (or not-purchase), at least for me. As do variants.

Case #1: Judge Dredd (IDW) #1

For what little advertising I’ve seen, I recognize the “A” cover. As that’s the image that’s been most used–that I have seen–I don’t WANT some “variant” image–I want THE image on the cover. That’s what I may or may not have been “sold on,” so if I can’t get that standard, first, “A” cover, you’re gonna lose my sale.

But then there’s another thing: what if I get the cover I want, and more than just trying this because it’s a first issue, I actually LIKE it? If I get “into” another series–this is $3.99/issue. I am so sick of $3.99, I honestly do not have ANY desire to add more comics to my pull list at $3.99 per.

Case #2: Marvel NOW recent releases

Again, I have no interest in variant covers–just give me one single standard cover.

But $3.99/issue?!? I think I saw where Fantastic Four #1 was $2.99, and Deadpool may have yet again fooled me and actually also be $2.99. But all the other relaunching books that’ve caught my eye–most notably X-Men Legacy and Iron Man–are $3.99. Couldn’t Marvel AT LEAST pull the drug-dealer bit and offer the first issue for a discounted cover price, and jump up for the next issue?

When DC relaunched FIFTY-TWO TITLES IN ONE MONTH, I went from buying “2 DCs” in August 2011 to buying 29 or so of the #1s in September, the ONLY $3.99 in the bunch was Action Comics #1 (and I immediately dropped Action Comics at #2 when the story ended 2 pages past the staples).

If Marvel’s NOW initiative was launching a bunch of books at $2.99 (hey, this sorta thing, why NOT use it as an “excuse” to re-brand the PRICE POINT and say “ok, y’all are getting sick of $3.99 so as part of these relaunches, we’ll give you at least a year of these books at $2.99!”). For $2.99 as the standard price and $3.99 as an exception…I’d’ve been much more inclined to try some of these titles.

As-is? Other than glancing at the new shelf for the Judge Dredd issue and putting it back, I paid no attention to any other releases, sticking instead to my pre-arranged pull list.

Case #3: The Bargain Bins

Try as I might, I haven’t been able to resist the bargain bins at my local comic shop. In addition to whatever “new stuff” I’m buying, I find the urge to at least flip through the back section of the bargain bins to see what’s been added–perhaps one day I’ll see that elusive Conan issue with Rune (from the Ultraverse) here, or a beat-up Uncanny X-Men 266 that I can read and have that won’t be re-sellable, or something on-par with that Thunderbolts #1 I got not too long ago.

And I’ve recently added better than 150 new issues to my ’90s X-collection, with some 2000s X-stuff thrown in–all for under 50-cents apiece, the vast majority for 22-25-cents. For $1.50, I got to read the 6-issue X-Men Forever mini-series from the early 2000s (this predated the Claremont series from several years ago)…spending more time reading that than $20 worth of new comics!

Why should I want to pay $3.99 for a bunch of comics when I can buy 14-16 issues’ worth of material for that same price? I can justify $4-5 on a dozen to 20 comics, no problem. But at $20 for 4-5 comics, I’m just LOOKING for an excuse to talk myself into dropping titles.

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: comics, judge dredd, Marvel Now, pricing, x-men | 1 Comment »

X Marks the Spot

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Walt

I recently bought a longbox of mostly X-books, which proved to be a significant step toward shoring up gaps in my 1990s’ X-books runs.

For the first time ever, I finally (FINALLY!) have all three issues of the Astonishing X-Men mini in one place at the same time. I got the first two issues back in 1999 when they came out. Unfortunately, the only comic shop I had access to when I first went off to college either didn’t get or sold out of #3.

I eventually got to read the final issue when I found a copy of the TPB of the mini. Sometime in the last several years I got a copy of #3. Unfortunately, I’d had #s 1-2 somewhere else and they’ve disappeared. Finding all 3 in the bargain bins for only $.75 total means I’ve still paid less than I’d’ve paid for the 3rd issue at cover price.

When I first bought The Search for Cyclops, I wound up with 2 issues of one cover style and 2 of the other. I now have a unified-looking complete mini.

Aside from other issues I have with variants, one of my main things is I like when (especially for a mini-series) the covers all look like they belong to the same series.

I remember Avengers Forever, and thus being interested in “the X-Men counterpart” when it started. But I actually only wound up with 2-3 issues of the series. Finally have the whole 6-issues series to read.

It’s slightly amusing now to know that–like Astonishing X-Men–there are multiple series of the exact same title that are completely unrelated, apparently used because they really liked the title…

I also realized this past Saturday that–quite without the intention of it–I had acquired the first appearance of Jublilee for a whopping 25-cents. Now if only I could be similarly lucky to find Uncanny X-Men #266 in a bargain-bin…

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: astonishing x-men, bargain bins, comics, Search for Cyclops, x-men, X-Men Forever | Leave a comment »

All-New X-Men #1 [Review]

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Walt

Full review posted to cxPulp.com.

Story: 4/5
Art: 4.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5

Filed under: All-New X-Men, cxPulp.com, MARVEL, Marvel Now! | Tagged: All New X-Men, Beast, Brian Michael Bendis, Comic Reviews, Cory Petit, cxPulp, Cyclops, Jordan D. White, magneto, Marte Gracia, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Marvel Now, Nick Lowe, Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, x-men | Leave a comment »

$3.99 vs. $3: Shiny Bargain-Bin Finds

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Walt

Looking through a new mix of 25-cent books at the LCS today, wound up with a bunch of shiny covers, as well as a few random issues. I have GOT to get a list together soon of what I actually have and what I still need by way of ’90s X-books.

Started out with a couple random issues cuz they were there, and then grabbed Phalanx Covenant:

And though I grabbed the Phalanx Covenant books for being there…wound up with the 4-part Generation Next arc–pretty sure at least one or two of these are new for me:

I’m not sure now which issues of Hero Illustrated I’m missing, but pretty sure this one’s new…and for what it is and the price, if it’s a duplicate I’m glad to take a chance anyway. And given I’m not buying current New-52 Superman…well, Man of Steel #1 is just sheer awesomeness I couldn’t bring myself to pass up.

And finally, for a mere 75-cents, almost $13 in 1990s sparkly-shiny-foil-chromium cover goodness:

11 comics and a magazine for $3–still came out $1 less than any other single issue new this week. What’s it gonna take for me to give up the new and settle in with “just” the old?

Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: 1990s, Chromium, comics, enhanced covers, Hero Illustrated, Man of Steel, Phalanx Covenant, shiny covers, x-men | Leave a comment »

Talking Myself Into All-New X-Men

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Walt

I intentionally did not buy Uncanny Avengers. I’m giving AvX: Consequences a pass because it began the week right after AvX 12, is only 5 issues, and is weekly. But I have no desire whatsoever to “support” Marvel Now for a number of reasons, PRIMARILY that I am so incredibly sick and tired of renumbering, tons of variant covers, and the $3.99 price point.

Some of the premises for Marvel Now titles interest me–I’m so totally torn over whether or not to try A+X as a preview showing what looks like the Maestro Hulk and Days of Future Past Logan caught my attention, and having just read Avengers: X-Sanction I’m interested in the Cap/Cable thing, see where they stand. Even though that may put me at risk of interest in Cable and X-Force.

But the biggest problem-title for me is the All-New X-Men. I hate all the retconning of the past decade, and loose/basic time-travel rules tell us all 5 X-Men will eventually return, in order to age into the present without changing history, and they’ll have no memory of stuff after.

But in general, time-travel stories, alternate timelines, etc. often interest me; my favorite for X-Men is certainly the original (mid-1990s) Age of Apocalypse (I care very little for anything done with AoA from 2005-present). So a time-travel X-Men story…ok.

Often we see time-travel stories from the point of view of having the focal character(s) and traveling “with” them into a “possible future.” You have the characters at current status quo, and the future is some possibility, taking outlandish concepts and seeing what events might twist the current characters into vastly different people by the time the future rolls around.

Here with this title, it’s kinda the other way around–we have our “present” that IS “the future” to these characters–we’ve seen the events as they’ve unfolded all these years that brought the characters from their teenage-original-X-Men-years to present. We’ve seen Fatal Attractions, The Shattering, The Twelve, Dream’s End, the Morrison run, Whedon‘s Astonishing X-Men run, House of M, Messiah Complex, Second Coming, AvX, and everything in-between.

Granted, this isn’t an entirely new concept….but to me it’s an intriguing “twist” of sorts. The closest comparison I can think of offhand would be Green Lantern: Emerald Knights when Kyle accidentally brought a young Hal Jordan to the then-present DCU and Hal got to learn of his own future, the Parallax corruption and so on.

I haven’t cared for all of Bendis‘ work…and certainly been “poisoned” a bit on his stuff due to marketing/hype. I avoided New Avengers on principle–Variant covers, as well as renumbering Avengers to #500 just to end at #503 and “relaunch” with New Avengers #1; having variant covers for EVERY ISSUE for the first 6-8 issues, I opted out. Then with the Heroic Age relaunching of Avengers, New Avengers, Secret Avengers, etc. I was all set to dive in…but was unwilling to actually do so at $3.99/issue.

I loved early Ultimate Spider-Man…quick though the issues are to read, the first 60-70 some issues are probably my favorite Spider-Man comics, period. So I already “know” contemporary Marvel and X-Men, and given his run on Ultimate Spider-Man, trust Bendis to write the young X-Men enjoyably.

Apparently the first 6 issues will be bi-weekly, so…yeah, 6 $4 issues means $24 in only 3 months…but I’m assuming that’s a full 6-issue arc, presumably withOUT having to wait a whole 6 months. So I can give the title at least a couple issues, maybe the whole first arc, to win me over long-term…and re-evaluate on a case-by-case basis.

So maybe in that regard, Marvel Now will be a success. And I guess I shouldn’t wish failure on it. I’m just not the primary target audience. But if I can find something to enjoy–great, that’s one more thing TO enjoy. And if I don’t enjoy it, or lose interest…I’ll still be able to fall back on the Valiant titles and IDW‘s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles books.