A + X #7

A + X #7 was another excelling amazing and fun issue pairing members of the Avengers and X-Men fighting to save the day.  The first issue has Iron Man (Tony Stark) and the Beast working together to prevent the corruption of an anti-Hulk weapon by a computer virus.  The dialog was well written and sharp with Tony completely on target with his wisecracking and genius.  The Beast also had some great dialog.  In the end Iron Man fails to prevent the computer virus from taking over the power armor that was meant to fight the Hulk.  The now rogue armor is winning the fight when the Hulk shows up returning from a mission and destroys the anti-Hulk armor accidentally.  It turns out this was all set up by Bruce Banner as a way to remind Tony Stark and the Beast who was the smartest of them all (in the Marvel Universe anyway).  The second story stared Iceman and Thor.  They are fighting against a new Frost Giant whom had entered our human world to destroy it.  He had a new weapon that was all power full.  Thor was doing the traditional trying to smash the bad guy with his hammer while Iceman quipped at Thor’s bad luck, because frankly Iceman was much outclassed.  Also Iceman was enjoying mocking Thor.   Thor manages to power the Casket of Ancient Winters an object that could destroy the world.  One side effect of the onslaught of a powerful winter blast was to increase Iceman’s powers.  Iceman manages to take down the Frost Giants where Thor had failed.  The humor in this story was really good and in the end even Thor got the joke.  As I said above both stories were very entertaining and if you have not checked out this team-up comic you should.

All New X-Men #9!

All New X-Men #9 was interesting with all the talking and talking about what was going on as if the writer was stalling.  It was rather obvious that the Times Square fight was in the Danger Room because we had already seen the X-men from the past fight well in a group.  It is not like they had fought bad guys in this series but they had fought people in their own past.  But there is some sloppy writing going on here and while I realize there will be some weirdness due to the time travel.  The lady whom Mystique breaks out of jail is suddenly with the current day X-men under crazy Cyclops as the cliff hanger?  I realize this could be a projection of the ladies power but still it is weird.  I am not even going to point out how the whole reason the X-men from the past came to the current day has been solved and not solved, the Beast was cured.  Yet the writers are still avoiding the whole save Scott Summers from himself plot – not counting the cliff hanger.  The entire comic feels like filler for the sake of filler and stretching out a clever idea way too far.

All New X-Men #8!!!

All New X-Men #8 was a good issue.  I was glad the Angel finally got some face time and better yet he got to do something with his future self.  The fight at Avengers Tower was great and Hydra needs help as attacking an empty Avengers Tower is just wimpy.  There are a number of great lines in this story including Captain America saying “Why are there two of you?” and even the Hulk has a quizzical look on his face.  Having Ice Man and Kitty Pride narrating the talk between the current Beast and Captain America was well done and amusing.  But having the original Scott Summers come out and give his little talk was great, though I am getting a bit worried about Jean Grey while she is learning all her new / old powers.  Overall this was a great issue!

A + X !!

A+X #4 is still holding to the two stories one book part one is the Beast and Spider-Man and the second story is Captain America and Quentin Quire.  Planet of the Beasts was very good I would go so far as to say it a one of the best stories I have read in a long time.  It was funny and the two smart characters got to sound smart while doing their super thing.  I am sure they both appreciated the chance to not be mocked for having and using their brains.  The whole planet of the beasts was apparently lifted directly from the Planet of the Apes movies.  Spider-man got in some good quips; the storm moved along and ended in a park.  Good Stuff.  The second story is alright but the whole earn each other’s trust is a little old.  I do not even know who Quire is or where he has appeared or where he ends up at the end of the story.  The M.O.G.O.D.! were used well for entertainment and comic relief. 

All New X-Men!

All New X-men #6 continues the saga and really I’m just glad Angel found a friend at least for a little while.  It was really just a bit of drama in the story much like a normal whiny X-men story.  Then again it is time for Mystique to appear – but that has been telegraphed a while now in the advertising.

X-men!

All New X-Men #4: D’oh! Read this one after number five the issue ended up in the wrong bag from the comic store.  This issue is alright, it is the link between the first half of the story where the old versions of the X-Men show up and when they start doing something.  Well something besides the current Iceman screaming every time he sees the old gang.

All New X-Men #5: I know I really should like this comic, it is just so wrong in every way.  But I can’t help it.  Showing the Original X-men what they will become with all the stupid story lines that get dumped on this comic because there is only so long you can make a good story.  It is not as if the writers wanted bad but it is a comic book and there are limits.  But especially in this issue we get the collision of the new and old which makes for some good old fashioned and interesting story telling.  It might end in a train wreck or beauty but only time will tell.  My one nitpick is just the evolution of Jean Grey happens suddenly and at a convenient time in the story.

Catching up...

All-New X-men #3 – So weeks after the “Big Event” none of these super mutants (including Cyclops or Magneto) noticed that their power had changed?  Yeah at least the new and old X-men finally meet.

Avengers #1 – A long boring story off Earth.  So now I believe Captain America is currently in another dimension in his main comic, in another different dimension with several Black Widows and now he is (spoiler) on Mars.  It may be time for them to just fight villains I was not expecting or hoping for grand space opera.  The teaser for future episodes says there will be more weird extra dimensional travel and back stabbing intrigue.  I will be dropping this comic.

Thunderbolts #1 was entertaining, but I am not sure I recognize all the suspects.  This issue was a bit wordy, hopefully the story will move along.

The G.I. Combat featuring the Haunted Tank and Unknown Soldier #7 was really good.  Well the Haunted Tank portion of the comic was really really good.  The first two issues with the Haunted Tank were silly, but this issue was really good.  No not going to give away the story.  The Unknown Soldier story is not good and I have been un-happy that this is the character the book spends so much time following.  This incarnation lacks the spirit of the character unlike how well the Haunted Tank turned out.

The comic Legends of the Dark Knight continue to deliver good stories with issue number three.  This issue tells the story of the people Batman helped.  The Batman is having doubts and he is his normal driven self.  But thanks to the Gotham PD clearing out the files Batman gets letters like his was Santa.  Actually my only complaint about this issue is that the font used to show the text is from a letter is hard to read for my old eyes.  I had to break out the magnifying glasses to read that part of the story getting old sucks sometimes.

Catching up

X-Treme X-men #7 was entertaining, robots disassembled by the dozens.  Not really sure what the point was to all the drama.  It was just an OK issue compared to previous stories in this series.

Issue number two of the All New X-men was an improvement over issue number one.  Much less whining and moaning.  This is the issue where they decide what to do and get to the future!  Still not sold on how this book is playing out versus how it was sold.

And this ends last week’s Marvel Comics.  I'm falling behind again.