#IReadsYou Review: X-MEN GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS Extended Cut #1

X-MEN: GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS EXTENDED CUT #1 (OF 2)
MARVEL COMICS

STORY: Christopher Claremont
ART: Brent Eric Anderson
COLORS: Steve Oliff
LETTERS: Tom Orzechowski
EDITOR: Louise Jones (original); Jennifer Grunwald (extended cut)
EiC: Jim Shooter (original); Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski (extended cut)
COVER: Salvador Larroca with Guru-eFX
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Brent Anderson; Rod Reis; Giuseppe Camuncoli and Erick Arciniega
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (June 2020)

Rated T+

The X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

The X-Men are a Marvel Comics superhero team and franchise created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Jack Kirby.  In The X-Men #1 (cover dated: September 1963), readers were introduced to a professor who was also team-leader to his students.  Each student had unique powers and abilities because he or she was a “mutant.”

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills (Marvel Graphic Novel #5) was an original graphic novel published in 1982 by Marvel Comics.  It was written by Christopher Claremont and illustrated by Brent Eric Anderson.  Colorist Steve Oliff and letterer Tom Orzechowski completed the graphic novel's creative team.  The story pits the X-Men and their longtime enemy, Magneto, against a fanatical religious leader bent on exterminating “mutantkind.”  The graphic novel went on to become one of the most popular and beloved X-Men stories of all time.  Elements of the God Loves, Man Kills were used in the 2003 X-Men, film, X2: X-Men United.

Back in 2020, Marvel republished X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills as a two-issue miniseries, entitled X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut.  The series divides the story in two parts and brackets it with a new ten-page framing sequence or story produced by the original story's creating team.  The first issue of this “extended cut” opens with five pages of the framing sequence and the second issue ends with the other five pages.

In this new sequence, the member of the X-Men known as Kitty Pryde and her pet dragon, Lockheed, are in southwest Texas.  There, Kitty visits a young woman named Kate who met Erik Lehnsherr a.k.a. “Magneto.”  Kitty has decided to tell the young woman the story that is X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills.

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut #1 opens in the “Gold Star Cafe,” somewhere in southwest Texas.  There, Kitty Pryde of the X-Men meets Kate, a friend of Magneto, and decides to tell her the story of a time when Kitty was new to the X-Men and was known by the code name, Ariel.

Once upon a time, there was a popular and fanatical religious leader named William Stryker who led a religious organization called the “Stryker Crusade.”  Under the guise of evangelical Christianity, Stryker hatched a plot to destroy all mutants on Earth.  To begin, Stryker targeted Charles Xavier a.k.a. Professor X, the lynch pin to his plot.

To get to Xavier, Stryker will have to go through the X-Men:  Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Kitty Pryde/Ariel.  To fight the X-Men, Stryker had a strike force, a form of armor-wearing men he called the “Purifiers.”

Professor X and his X-Men were unaware of the danger to their lives.  Colossus' younger sister, Illyana, was also living with the team.  After Professor X and two of his X-Men are captured, the X-Men begin to fight back, but they will find themselves needing help from the greatest enemy, Magneto.

THE LOWDOWN:  I read X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills several times in my youth, but prior to reading this reprint series, I don't think that I had read it in decades.  I didn't read the sequel to it that Chris Claremont wrote for his former X-Men comic book series, X-Treme X-Men (2001-04).  Entitled “God Love, Man Kills Part II, it ran from X-Treme X-Men #25 (July 2003) to X-Treme X-Men #30 (October 2003).  The entire story line was collected in the trade paperback, X-Treme X-Men Vol. 5: God Love, Man Kills (October 2003).

It turns out that I had forgotten quite a bit of “God Loves, Man Kills.”  That includes the action-packed final battle against the Purifiers and that final debate with William Stryker at the “Stryker Building.”  I also had forgotten that Claremont has Kitty Pryde use the term “nigger-lover” in anger at Stevie Hunter.  An African-America woman, Stevie was a recurring, non-mutant character, who mostly appeared in The Uncanny X-Men and New Mutants in the early 1980s.  Four decades later, I have to say that I don't like that scene very much and I'm not happy about the use of that term.  I'm not surprised that Marvel did not remove it, but I am sure that it would not be used today in a scene of a similar context.

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills is a pivotal point in the publication history of the X-Men.  I believe that the X-Men began as a group of costume adventurers and superheroes who were defined by the fact that they were mutants and who faced prejudice because of it.  However, the original X-Men comic book series also focused on the action and was essentially an adventure serial.

After the debut of the “new X-Men” in 1974, writer Chris Claremont wrote the X-Men comic book as a serialized soap opera, although the X-Men team of the time traveled around the world having adventures and facing one peril after another.  Under Claremont, the X-Men and mutants, in general, became outcasts because of their mutant status.  No matter what they did as superheroes, being a mutant overshadowed or defined their actions.

Eventually, the X-Men, which was eventually re-titled “Uncanny X-Men,” became a comic book in which the narrative focused on prejudice, bigotry, racism, and hate.  The X-Men's struggles were a metaphor for the struggles of persecuted and hated minority groups fighting to be accepted by the wider society.  What made them different did not make them “less human” was a recurring theme, even as the traveled around the world and off it.

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills was the point of no return.  Never again would the The Uncanny X-Men and its various spin-off series really be about adventure.  Past, present, and future – even future-past – would be about the mutant struggle and what forms the struggle would take.  Eventually, the X-Men would become a franchise that was insular and redundant.  I think that is why over time the Uncanny X-Men went from being a bestselling comic book franchise to being in the shadow of titles like Avengers, Batman, and Justice League, to name a few.

The mutant struggle became repetitive and tired and it began with a really memorable story, X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills.  The X-Men were once mutants who really wanted to prove that they could be the kind of superheroes who protected both mutants and humans and fought to save a world upon which both shared.  Then, the X-Men became just mutants.

Apparently, individual issues of comic books that are reprints of other individual comic books have been popular with buyers for more than a decade.  That is the only reason to reprint X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut.  The X-Men are not as relevant as they once were, and the original X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills was rendered irrelevant by repetition of its themes long ago.

As for the new framing sequence:  there is a kernel of something relevant in Claremont's scenario.  And Brent Anderson's art reminds us that he is still an important artist in the history of X-Men publications despite his small output in the franchise.  If one of the themes of X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills was and still is “hope,” then, X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut, at least for me, suggests that there is hope for the X-Men  It is hope that the franchise can be more than what it is now – a consumer product, an intellectual property (IP), and for some, a fetish.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of the original X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills will want to give X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut a try.

[This comic book includes two interviews, one with Chris Claremont and one with Brent Anderson.]

A-
★★★½ out of 4 stars

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


https://twitter.com/Marvel
https://www.marvel.com/
https://www.marvel.com/comics
https://www.comixology.com/Marvel_Comics


The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and  syndication rights and fees.

--------------------------

#IReadsYou Review: Marvel Comics' ALIEN #1

ALIEN #1
MARVEL

STORY: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
ART: Salvador Larroca
COLORS: Guru-eFX
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
EDITOR: Jake Thomas
EiC: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: InHyuk Lee
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Steve McNiven with Laura Martin; Peach Momoko; Ron Lim with Israel Silva; Todd Nauck with Rachelle Rosenberg; Patrick Gleason; Skottie Young; David Finch with Frank D'Armata; Salvador Larroca with Guru-eFX
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (May 2021)

Parental Advisory

Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Dan O'Bannon, based on a story that O'Bannon wrote with Ronald Shusett.  The film depicts a battle for survival between the crew of the commercial towing vehicle,  the space ship named “the Nostromo” and an aggressive deadline extraterrestrial creature, the “Alien” of the title, that is now known as a “Xenomorph.”

Alien, which went on to win an Academy Award, spawned a film franchise, beginning with writer-director James Cameron's 1986 science fiction action film, Aliens.  Alien also begat a media franchise, which included a comic book adaptation and also a novelization of the original film.  In 1988, Dark Horse Comics launched its first Alien comic book series, a 1988-89, six-issue comic book miniseries, entitled Aliens.  Dark Horse had the license to produce comic books based on the Alien franchise from 1988 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2020.

Marvel Comics announced in 2020 that it had obtained the license to produce comic books based on the Alien film franchise.  Marvel Comics recently launched the first comic book series, Alien.  It is written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson; drawn by Salvador Larroca; colored by Guru-eFX, and lettered by Clayton Cowles.  This new Alien comic book focuses on a recently retired security agent who once faced the Xenomorphs and may have to again.

Alien #1 opens in January of the year 2200 on the Epsilon Orbital Research and Development Station.  It introduces Gabriel Cruz, a man who has given his life to Weyland-Yutani as a defense agent.  He is retiring as the security agent for Weyland-Yutani's Epsilon Station.  With the help of his friend, a Bishop-model android, Cruz hopes to reconnect and patch things up with Danny, his estranged son.  However, Danny has dangerous and ulterior motives for reuniting with his father.

Once upon a time, Gabriel barely survived an alien attack.  And now, it seems that his encounters are far from over.

THE LOWDOWN:  I am a big fan of the Alien film franchise, and I have lost count of how many times I have watched James Cameron's Aliens, including a few times just recently.  I have seen both Alien vs. Predator films numerous times and will watch them many times more.

Early in Dark Horse Comics' run of Alien comic books, I was devoted to the company's output, but lost interest after several years.  I thought the new Marvel Comics' title would be a good time to start reading Alien comic book again, and I was right.

Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson whets the appetite with the promise of thrills to come while offering tasty teases of back story involving Gabriel Cruz.  Books about writing will always say that the writer should create strong characters and that the plot will develop from the characters.  Basically, the characters should act as the spine of the story.  I find the spine of this story, Gabriel and Danny, to be dull, and I have no interest in their crappy relationship.  On the other hand, the plot is quite strong.  Johnson makes Alien #1 a fun read when he focuses on the threat of the “Aliens” and on the looming disaster that will fully bring them into the story.

I would not call the art and graphical storytelling in Alien #1 peak Salvador Larroca.  For one thing, all the characters have faces that look like they underwent bad plastic surgery.  The compositions have a generic, Larroca clip art quality, but Guru-eFX's power-coloring and super-hues cover up the blemishes as well as any coloring can.

Still, Marvel's Alien #1 intrigues, especially if you, dear readers, are fans of the Xenomorphs.  I think I should keep reading … at least for the first story arc.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of the Alien/Aliens film and comic book franchises will certainly want to try Marvel's Alien.

A-
7.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


https://twitter.com/Marvel
https://www.marvel.com/
https://www.marvel.com/comics
https://www.comixology.com/Marvel_Comics


The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

-------------

Amazon wants me to inform you that the link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the ad below AND buy something(s).

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 20, 2019

MARVEL COMICS

JAN190963    AGE OF X-MAN AMAZING NIGHTCRAWLER #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
JAN190957    AGE OF X-MAN NEXTGEN #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
JAN190891    AVENGERS #17 GARBETT SPIDER-MAN VILLAINS VAR    $3.99
JAN190890    AVENGERS #17 WR    $3.99
JAN190918    AVENGERS NO ROAD HOME #6 (OF 10)    $4.99
JAN190919    AVENGERS NO ROAD HOME #6 (OF 10) NOTO CONNECTING VAR    $4.99
SEP180999    AVENGERS OMNIBUS HC VOL 04 ARTHUR ADAMS VAR    $100.00
SEP181000    AVENGERS OMNIBUS HC VOL 04 NEAL ADAMS DM VAR    $100.00
DEC181040    BLACK PANTHER VS DEADPOOL TP    $15.99
DEC181056    CAPTAIN AMERICA EPIC COLLECTION TP SUPERIA STRATAGEM    $39.99
JAN191018    CAPTAIN MARVEL #3    $3.99
JAN191020    CAPTAIN MARVEL #3 MOVIE VAR    $3.99
JAN198065    CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1 3RD PTG ASRAR VAR    $4.99
JAN198066    CONAN THE BARBARIAN #2 3RD PTG ASRAR VAR    $3.99
JAN191001    FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN #4    $3.99
JAN191033    GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #3    $3.99
JAN190981    IMMORTAL HULK #15    $3.99
DEC181060    IRON MAN BY FRACTION & LARROCA COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 01    $39.99
JAN190940    MEET THE SKRULLS #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
JAN190996    MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN #4    $3.99
DEC181032    RETURN OF WOLVERINE TP    $17.99
SEP181003    SAVAGE SWORD CONAN HC ORIG MARVEL YRS OMNIBUS VOL 01    $125.00
SEP181004    SAVAGE SWORD CONAN HC ORIG MARVEL YRS OMNIBUS VOL 01 DM VAR    $125.00
JAN190909    SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #3    $3.99
JAN190967    SPIDER-MAN CITY AT WAR #1 (OF 6)    $3.99
JAN190972    SPIDER-MAN CITY AT WAR #1 (OF 6) SPIDER-MAN VILLAINS VAR    $3.99
JAN190927    SPIDER-MAN LIFE STORY #1 (OF 6)    $4.99
JAN191061    STAR WARS #63    $3.99
DEC181053    STAR WARS LEGENDS EPIC COLLECTION OLD REPUBLIC TP VOL 03    $39.99
JAN191072    STAR WARS SOLO ADAPTATION #6 (OF 7)    $3.99
JAN190893    THOR #11 WR    $3.99
JAN191038    UNCANNY X-MEN #14    $3.99
JAN191039    UNCANNY X-MEN #14 RIVERA SPIDER-MAN VILLAINS VAR    $3.99
JAN191040    UNCANNY X-MEN #14 SANDOVAL CHARACTER VAR    $3.99
DEC181034    UNCANNY X-MEN TP VOL 01 X-MEN DISASSEMBLED    $39.99
JAN190991    VENOM #12    $3.99
JAN190992    VENOM #12 STEGMAN SPIDER-MAN VILLAINS VAR    $3.99
JAN190976    WEST COAST AVENGERS #9    $3.99
JAN191032    WOLVERINE INFINITY WATCH #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
DEC181064    X-MEN TP ONSLAUGHT AFTERMATH    $39.99

Review: DOCTOR APHRA #1

DOCTOR APHRA No. 1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon. Visit the "Star Wars Central" review page is here.]

WRITER: Kieron Gillen
ART: Kev Walker; Salvador Larroca
COLORS: Antonio Fabela; Edgar Delgado
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Kamome Shirahama
VARIANT COVERS: Rod Reis; John Tyler Christopher; Salvador Larroca; Elsa Charretier; Jamie McKelvie; Rafael Albuquerque; Ashley Witter; Kamome Shirahama
44pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (February 2017)

Rated “T”

Aphra “Part 1”

Rogue archaeologist, Doctor Aphra, first appeared in Marvel Comics' Darth Vader #3.  She became Darth Vader's lackey and eventually his enemy.  Darth Vader the comic book recently ended, and its replacement is a new comic book, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, Marvel Comics' first ongoing series starring an original Star Wars character created in the Star Wars comic books.  Doctor Aphra is written by Kieron Gillen; drawn by Kev Walker; colored by Antonio Fabela; and lettered by Joe Caramagna.

Doctor Aphra #1 opens in the aftermath of Darth Vader #25.  Aphra barely escaped Darth Vader's clutches with her life, and she knows if he discovers that she is not dead, he will hunt her down.  Aphra returns to what she does best – search the galaxy for rare artifacts.  She is now locating and liberating rare archaeological treasures; her companions are the homicidal droids, 0-0-0 and BT-1 (who also debuted in Darth Vader #3) and the Wookiee warrior, Krrsantan.  Her latest artifact find will bring her nothing but trouble, as she discovers that everyone and no one wants it.

I really like the cover art for Doctor Aphra #1, which is drawn and colored by Kamome Shirahama.  It is not a particularly inventive visual design, but it is striking in its execution.  I also like the interior art by Kev Walker, whose graphic style reminds me of the work of Jamie Hewlett (the co-creator with Alan Martin of Tank Girl).  Walker and colorist Antonio Fabela's work on this first issue would been a good fit for the best days of the science fiction and fantasy anthology magazine, Heavy Metal.

In fact, I think that in some ways,this Doctor Aphra comic book will be as much like Tank Girl, Heavy Metal, and various British and European science fiction comics as it will be a Star Wars comic book.  This title may be something of a risk for Marvel, in terms of Star Wars comic books, but it is good to see that they are willing to be a bit adventurous with their Star Wars titles.  The prior license holder for Star Wars comic books, Dark Horse Comics, was quite adventurous in the kind of Star Wars titles that it produced for two decades.

As a nice extra, there is a back-up story featuring a younger Doctor Aphra, and it is produced by the Darth Vader creative team of Gillen; artist Salvador Larroca, and colorist Edgar Delgado.  This story assures me that Doctor Aphra is more likely than not to be a good Star Wars comic book.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

--------------------------------------------------

Review: STAR WARS #38

STAR WARS No. 38 (2015)
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[Visit the "Star Wars Central" review page here.]

STORY: Kieron Gillen
ART: Salvador Larroca
COLORS: Guru e-FX
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: David Marquez with Matthew Wilson
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (January 2018)

Rated T

Part I: “The Ashes of Jedha”

In 2015, Marvel Comics restarted their publication of Star Wars comic books with a brand new Star Wars #1.  I wrote a review of it and went on to review a few more issues of the series, plus the first annual.  Jason Aaron was the series writer from the beginning and delivered a number of really good story arcs and, recently, several really good stand alone, single-issue stories.

Aaron has moved on and the new series writer is Kieron Gillen, who did stellar work on Marvel's initial Darth Vader title, which was drawn by Salvador Larroca.  In fact, I can make a good case that Gillen and Larroca's Darth Vader was and still is the best Star Wars comic book Marvel has published since it regained the license to produce such comic books.  Gillen, as writer, and Larroca, as artist, reunite as the new Star Wars creative team.  They are joined by Guru e-FX on colors and Clayton Cowles on letters.

Star Wars #38 (“The Ashes of Jedha”) finds that the forces of the Galactic Empire have returned to the desert moon Jedha, which the Empire nearly destroyed (as seen in the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story).  The Empire wants the kyber crystals, which are plentiful on Jedha and which power lightsabers, that managed to survive the destruction wrought on the moon by a test of the Death Star.

Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2 have arrived on Jedha in hopes of forming an alliance with the “main” rebellion and the rebels on Jedha.  However, the partisans on Jedha are different in many ways from the Rebel Alliance, and these wild rebels of Jedha may hold the Alliance in as much disdain as they do the Empire.

As much as I was enjoying Star Wars the comic book, I know that there was a part of me that believed the series needed, if not a fresh start, some injection of freshness.  I think Kieron Gillen is that injection, and there is something about Gillen and Larroca that really works as a comic book creative team.  There is fire in the drama, and the tension is electrically charged.  Together, they produce comic books that have me hopping for the next issue every time I finish the issue at hand.

The rich colors by Guru e-FX dazzle my eyes.  It is near perfect, although the colors seem to emphasize a peculiar photo-like quality in many of the faces that Larroca draws.  I often don't mention lettering in my reviews, but here, Clayton Cowles actually super-charges the edgy mood of this story.

Once again, the creators of a Marvel Star Wars comic book title have me chomping at the bit to read the next issue.  In the case of the new Star Wars team, I am not ashamed to be a fanboy.

A
9 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

-------------------------------

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for September 6, 2017

MARVEL COMICS

JUL171125    ALL NEW GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #9    $3.99
MAR171135    AMAZING SPIDER-MAN WORLDWIDE HC VOL 02    $34.99
JUL171137    ASTONISHING X-MEN #3    $3.99
JUL171087    BLACK BOLT #5    $3.99
JUL171030    CHAMPIONS #12 SE    $3.99
JUL171098    DAREDEVIL #26    $3.99
JUL171156    GENERATION X #6    $3.99
JUL171006    GENERATIONS IRON MAN & IRONHEART #1    $4.99
JUL171007    GENERATIONS IRON MAN & IRONHEART #1 COIPEL VAR    $4.99
JUN178546    GENERATIONS PHOENIX & JEAN GREY #1 2ND PTG MATTINA VAR    $4.99
JUL171122    HAWKEYE #10    $3.99
MAR171138    HULK PLANET HULK OMNIBUS HC    $100.00
JUL171149    ICEMAN #5    $3.99
JUL171088    INHUMANS ONCE FUTURE KINGS #2 (OF 5)    $3.99
JUL171089    INHUMANS ONCE FUTURE KINGS #2 (OF 5) CHARACTER VAR    $3.99
JUL171105    IRON FIST #7    $3.99
JUN171055    IRON FIST TP VOL 01 TRIAL OF THE SEVEN MASTERS    $15.99
JUL171102    JESSICA JONES #12    $3.99
JUL171103    JESSICA JONES #12 MORRISETTE PHAN VAR    $3.99
JUL171161    JOURNEY SW LAST JEDI CAPT PHASMA #1 (OF 4)    $3.99
MAY170949    MAN-THING BY R L STINE TP VOL 01    $15.99
JUN171027    MARVEL GRAPHIC COMIC BOXES MARVEL LEGACY (BUNDLE OF 5) (NET)    $45.00
MAR171145    MARVEL HIP HOP COVERS HC VOL 02    $34.99
MAR171143    MMW LUKE CAGE POWER MAN HC VOL 02    $75.00
MAR171144    MMW LUKE CAGE POWER MAN HC VOL 02 DM VAR ED 248    $75.00
MAR171133    PUNISHER BACK TO WAR OMNIBUS HC    $100.00
MAR171134    PUNISHER BACK TO WAR OMNIBUS HC DM VAR ED    $100.00
MAR171132    PUNISHER BY GARTH ENNIS OMNIBUS HC NEW PTG    $100.00
JUL171095    ROYALS #7    $3.99
MAY178002    SECRET EMPIRE #10 (OF 10) ROSS GENERATIONS VAR    $4.99
JUL171080    SPIDER-MAN #20    $3.99
JUL171085    SPIDER-MAN DEADPOOL #21    $3.99
MAY170950    STAR WARS DARTH MAUL TP    $16.99
JUL171181    STAR WARS DARTH VADER #5    $3.99
MAR171128    STAR WARS DARTH VADER BY GILLEN AND LARROCA OMNIBUS HC    $100.00
MAR171127    STAR WARS MARVEL UK OMNIBUS HC    $100.00
JUL171188    STAR WARS ROGUE ONE ADAPTATION #6 (OF 6)    $3.99
JUN171063    THOR & HULK DIGEST TP    $9.99
JUL171048    VENOMVERSE #1 (OF 5)    $4.99
JUL171051    VENOMVERSE #1 (OF 5) CRAIN CONNECTING VAR    $4.99
JUL171050    VENOMVERSE #1 (OF 5) TORQUE POISON VAR    $4.99
JUL171068    VENOMVERSE WAR STORIES #1    $4.99
JUL171069    VENOMVERSE WAR STORIES #1 LIM VAR    $4.99
JUL171143    X-MEN GOLD #11    $3.99

Review: DARTH VADER #25

DARTH VADER No. 25
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review was originally posted on Patreon. Visit the "Star Wars Central" review page here.]

STORY: Keiron Gillen
ART: Salvador Larroca
COLORS: Edgar Delgado
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Juan Gimenez
VARIANT COVERS: Cliff Chiang; John Tyler Christopher; Michael Cho; Adi Granov; Greg Land; Salvador Larocca; Jamie McKelvie; Sara Pichelli; Joe Quesada; Chris Samnee; Kamome Shirahama
52pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (December 2016)

Rated T

Book IV, Part VI: “End of Games”

Of course you know that The Walt Disney Company owns Marvel Comics, dear readers.  Shortly after acquiring Marvel Entertainment, Disney bought Lucasfilm, Ltd., the owner of all thing Star Wars.  Just a (relatively) short time later, Dark Horse Comics lost the license to produce Star Wars comic books, which it had held for two decades.  It was obvious that Marvel would be the new home of Star Wars comics, and around the beginning of 2015, Marvel released the flagship title, Star Wars.

Shortly afterwards, Marvel began its second Star Wars series, Darth Vader.  Written by Keiron Gillen, drawn by Salvador Larroca, colored by Edgar Delgado, and lettered by Joe Caramagna, this series chronicled the quest of Star Wars' most (in)famous and beloved villain, Darth Vader, has he delved into his past and fought for his present in order to prepare for his future.

Basically, this is how Darth Vader the comic book worked.  Emperor Palpatine held Vader responsible for the destruction of his ultimate weapon, the Death Star, by the Rebel Alliance – as seen the original Star Wars from 1977 (also known as Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope).  Suddenly, the Emperor had appointed others in position of power that basically rivaled Vader's position of power and authority under the Emperor, and some of those rivals wanted to see Vader dead.

To defend himself, Vader essentially created his own secret Empire within the Emperor's Empire, from which he could defeat his adversaries and secure his position in the Empire.  Vader even learned that the young pilot who launched the torpedoes/missiles that destroyed the Death Star is Luke Skywalker, his son by his late wife from another life.  As the series progressed, Vader had much success, but some of his rivals prove to be formidable adversaries who could destroy him.

Now, the series comes to an end and wraps up its remaining story lines/threads in Darth Vader #25.  As the story begins, Darth Vader prepares for his final showdown with the one who has proven to be his most wily rival, Cylo, but the traitorous scientist has a fail safe that may give him victory over Vader.  Meanwhile, Vader's secret ally, Dr. Aphra, moves to protect herself from Vader – by seeking counsel with the Emperor!

After the first story arc of this series, entitled “Vader,” it was clear that Marvel's best Star Wars comic book was Darth Vader, which was saying a lot because the flagship Star Wars was also quite good.  I think series writer Kieron Gillen did a good job of connecting the past, which contained the wreckage resulting from the transformation of Annakin Skywalker into Darth Vader to the present, filled with Vader's problems and dilemmas.  Gillen gave his readers the chance to watch Vader discover some of the secrets of his past, which were not secret to readers, while also offering readers the opportunity to see how Vader “discovered” Luke Skywalker.

I can say that Gillen was good enough at what he did with Darth Vader that this series is worth preserving in trade paperback for future readers.  For the time being or until Star Wars is inevitably rebooted (probably sooner than we think), Gillen's Darth Vader is Star Wars storytelling for posterity.

And before we go, I must praise the stellar work of series artist, Salvador Larroca.  It is a shame that it seems easy to take Larroca for granted, but his work defined this series' sense of cloak and dagger and the title character's relentless aggression.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

---------------------

I Reads You Review: DARTH VADER #1

DARTH VADER #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

["Star Wars Central" review page is here.]

STORY: Keiron Gillen
ART: Salvador Larroca
COLORS: Edgar Delgado
LETTERS: VC's Joe Caramagna
COVER: Adi Granov
VARIANT COVERS: Alex Ross, Simone Bianchi, Mark Brooks, J. Scott Campbell, John Cassaday, John Tyler Christopher, Adi Granov, Greg Horn, Greg Land, Salvador Larocca, Alex Maleev, Mike Del Mundo, Whilce Portacio, Mico Suayan, Skottie Young
40pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (April 2015)

Rated T

Book 1: Vader

Marvel Comics' new line of Star Wars comic books yields a second series.  Entitled Darth Vader, it is written by Keiron Gillen, drawn by Salvador Larroca, colored by Edgar Delgado, and lettered by Joe Caramagna.  Of course, this series focuses on the signature Star Wars villain, Darth Vader.

It might seem odd to that Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, is so popular.  Throughout six Star Wars films, Vader, either as himself or as his original identity, Anakin Skywalker, has been portrayed as a killer, a mass murderer, a child killer, a war criminal, a torturer, a traitor, a liar, and as the lap dog of Emperor of the evil Galactic Empire.  While people would generally find anyone of the above descriptions repugnant, to say nothing of possessing more than one, Darth Vader is a fictional character is an escapist fantasy.  Instead of being repugnant, Vader is alluring

It is granted that countless people around the world take the Star Wars narrative seriously.  While Darth Vader may be like Adolf Hitler, he is not in actuality like Hitler.  So fans can love the fictional Vader, while hating even a fictional depiction of Hitler.  Got it?  We don't have to take Vader so seriously in order to find him a most delicious bad guy.

Darth Vader #1 (Book 1: Vader) opens after the events that took place on Cymoon (as seen in Marvel's recently launched Star Wars comic book series).  Vader is on the planet Tatooine to negotiate with Outer Rim crime lord, Jabba the Hutt.  The story then takes readers to the period shortly before Vader arrived on Tatooine.

We learn that the Emperor is exceedingly displeased at the Rebel Alliance's destruction of the Death Star and also with the Rebel attack on Cymoon.  The Emperor both blames Vader and tasks him with repairing the damage done to “his” empire by the recent setbacks.  Vader realizes that his position is now precarious, so how will he respond?

As I started reading Darth Vader #1, I did not expect much – I have to admit.  The art is good, but it is by Salvador Larroca, who is always good and has been for over a decade.  Just after the halfway point in this first issue, I started to understand that Darth Vader the comic book looks like it is going to be a character drama about and character study of Vader.  He will be neither the henchman/contagonist of the original Star Wars film trilogy nor the shallow and petulant youth of the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Keiron Gillen will give Vader not only motivation, but also personality, including a sense of pride and an ability to be pricked and wounded emotionally and psychologically.  Vader will have to respond, to defend, and to protect himself in sometimes imaginative and sometimes foolish ways.  Larroca will bring that to life in vivid, potent, and eye-catching storytelling.

Could Darth Vader be the better Star Wars ongoing series?

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 11, 2015

MARVEL COMICS

DEC140873     ALL NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA FEAR HIM #2     $3.99
DEC140915     ALL NEW GHOST RIDER #11     $3.99
OCT140887     ALL NEW X-MEN #36     $3.99
DEC140845     AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #14 SV     $3.99
DEC140993     AVENGERS RAGE OF ULTRON BY OPENA POSTER     $8.99
NOV140874     AVENGERS WORLD TP VOL 03 NEXT WORLD     $19.99
DEC140864     BUCKY BARNES WINTER SOLDIER #5     $3.99
DEC140909     CAPTAIN MARVEL #12     $3.99
DEC140926     CYCLOPS #10     $3.99
DEC140792     DARTH VADER #1     $4.99
NOV140887     DEATHLOK TP RAGE AGAINST MACHINE     $34.99
NOV140886     DEXTER TP     $19.99
DEC140902     GUARDIANS 3000 #5     $3.99
DEC140823     GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #24 BV     $3.99
DEC140994     GUARDIANS TEAM-UP BY ADAMS POSTER     $8.99
NOV140883     INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK TP VOL 04 HUMANITY BOMB     $19.99
NOV140895     INHUMANS 50TH ANNIVERSARY POSTER     $8.99
DEC140813     MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS ASSEMBLE SEASON TWO #4     $2.99
APR140748     MMW MIGHTY THOR HC VOL 01 NEW PTG     $49.99
SEP140920     MMW SUB MARINER HC VOL 06     $75.00
DEC140935     NIGHTCRAWLER #11     $3.99
NOV140893     OZ TP EMERALD CITY OF OZ     $19.99
NOV140861     ROCKET RACCOON PREM HC VOL 01 CHASING TALE     $24.99
DEC140995     SPIDER-GWEN BY RODRIGUEZ POSTER     $8.99
DEC140851     SPIDER-WOMAN #4 SV     $3.99
DEC140862     THANOS VS HULK #3     $3.99
DEC140894     THOR #5     $3.99
DEC140841     WOLVERINES #6     $3.99
DEC140927     X-FORCE #15     $3.99
DEC140938     X-MEN #24     $3.99

I Reads You Review: STAR WARS #1

STAR WARS (2015) #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

["Star Wars Central" review page is here.]

STORY: Jason Aaron
ART: John Cassaday
COLORS: Laura Martin
LETTERS: Chris Eliopoulos
COVER: John Cassaday with Laura Martin
VARIANT COVERS: Bob McLeod; Simone Bianchi, Mark Brooks, J. Scott Campbell with Nei Ruffino; Pascal Campion; John Tyler Christopher; Alan Davis, Dale Keown; Sara Pichelli; Humberto Ramos; Alex Ross; Skottie Young
48pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (March 2015)

Rated T

Book 1: Skywalker Strikes

In 1977, Marvel Comics published a comic book adaptation of the movie, Star Wars, over the course of six issues.  Because of the sales success of that adaptation, Marvel continued publishing this comic book, also entitled Star Wars, assigning a number of writers and artists to fashion new adventures featuring the cast of the Oscar-winning Star Wars, which broke box office records.

During its run of 107 issues and 3 annuals, Star Wars the comic book series also adapted the 1980 film, The Empire Strikes Back (over the course of six issues).  The series created new stories to continue the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, Han Solo, Chewbacca,  C-3PO, R2-D2, Darth Vader, and new characters like Lando Calrissian and Boba Fett.  A comic book adaptation of Return of the Jedi was published in a separate four-issue miniseries.  Marvel also published two other Star Wars comic books, a fourteen-issue series, Ewoks, and an eight-issue series, Droids.  In 1986, Marvel stopped producing new Star Wars comic books.

From 1991 to 2014, Dark Horse Comics held the license to publish Star Wars comic books.  During that time, Dark Horse published hundreds of individual Star Wars comic books, paperbacks, and hardcover collections.  The Walt Disney Company bought Marvel Entertainment, LLC in 2009 and Lucasfilm Limited, LLC in 2012 (the home of Star Wars, of course), making Marvel Comics and Lucasfilm corporate siblings.  Because of that, Marvel Comics was slated to once again be the publisher of Star Wars comic books.

To begin this new era of Star Wars comic books, Marvel recently launched a new comic book entitled Star Wars.  This title returns to the period immediately following the events depicted in the original Star Wars film (also known as Episode IV – A New Hope).  That means new adventures featuring the classic versions of Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca,  C-3PO, R2-D2, and Darth Vader.

Marvel's Star Wars #1 opens shortly after Luke Skywalker destroyed the evil Galactic Empire's most feared and greatest weapon, the Death Star.  Now, the Rebel Alliance wishes to press the advantage they gained over Imperial Forces and are launching a daring offensive in a bid to defeat the Empire once and for all.

Now, Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2 have secretly infiltrated the Corellian Industrial Cluster.  Han is pretending to be the official emissary of Jabba the Hutt, whose organization will provide the raw material that the Empire needs for its weapons factory.  Our favorite rebels are about to discover that another negotiator is also on his way, and he is someone familiar to them.

What can I say?  I love Star Wars.  I have only read a small portion of the books and comic books produced in what is called the “Star Wars Expanded Universe.”  I have occasionally bought toys, clothing, and other merchandising.  Still, I love Star Wars.  I have seen all the films (including the Star Wars: The Clone Wars film) in whole or in part so many times that only God knows the number.  I did not watch much of the old “Droids” and “Ewoks” Saturday morning cartoon series, but I have seen most of the recent animated series, like “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars Rebels.”

Yes, I love Star Wars.  Marvel's new Star Wars #1 does feel like it is connected to the original Star Wars film, at least to me.  Writer Jason Aaron is spot-on with the dialogue.  Han's dialogue recalls Harrison Ford of the original trilogy.  There are moments in this first issue when artist John Cassaday draws the characters as if he had gone back in time and was the official portrait artist on the set of Star Wars in 1976 when George Lucas began shooting the first film.  So what can I say?  Of course, I like this.  Of course, I love Marvel Comics' new Star Wars #1.

[At the beginning of 2013, Dark Horse Comics launched a comic book entitled Star Wars.  It also took us (as a press release said) “back to those heady, adventure-filled days following the destruction of the Death Star—when the Empire ruled, the Rebels were on the run, and the galaxy was a dangerous place where anything might happen!”  Dark Horse's Star Wars was a character-driven, science fiction adventure serial, and, to be fair, it was quite good.]

A

[This comic book includes previews of the following comic books:  Star Wars: Darth Vader by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larocca and Star Wars: Princess Leia by Mark Waid and Terry Dodson.]

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for February 19 2014

MARVEL COMICS

DEC130722 A PLUS X #17 [DIG] $3.99
DEC138035 ALL NEW MARVEL NOW POINT ONE #1 2ND PTG LARROCA VAR $5.99
DEC138036 ALL NEW X-FACTOR #1 2ND PTG ANKA VAR ANMN $3.99
DEC130745 AMAZING X-MEN #4 [DIG] $3.99
DEC138037 AVENGERS WORLD #1 2ND PTG CASSADAY VAR ANMN $3.99
DEC130688 AVENGERS WORLD #3 ANMN [DIG] $3.99
DEC138038 BLACK WIDOW #1 2ND PTG NOTO VAR ANMN $3.99
DEC130646 CAPTAIN AMERICA #17 ANMN [DIG] $3.99
NOV130729 CAPTAIN AMERICA EPIC COLLECTION TP DAWNS EARLY LIGHT TP [DIG] $34.99
DEC130738 DAREDEVIL #36 [DIG] $2.99
DEC130710 DEXTER DOWN UNDER #1 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130703 DISNEY KINGDOMS SEEKERS OF WEIRD #2 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130705 DISNEY KINGDOMS SEEKERS OF WEIRD #2 CROSBY IMAGINEER [DIG] $3.99
SEP130781 GOLDEN AGE CAPTAIN AMERICA OMNI HC VOL 01 WEEKS CVR [DIG] $125.00
DEC130739 IRON MAN ANNUAL #1 [DIG] $4.99
NOV130730 JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY BY GILLEN TP VOL 01 COMPLETE COLL [DIG] $34.99
DEC130731 MARVEL KNIGHTS HULK #3 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130655 NEW WARRIORS #1 ANMN [DIG] $3.99
DEC130750 NIGHT OF LIVING DEADPOOL #3 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130660 NOVA #13.NOW ANMN [DIG] $3.99
NOV130723 NOVA TP VOL 01 ORIGIN NOW [DIG] $19.99
DEC130632 PUNISHER #2 ANMN [DIG] $3.99
DEC130701 SAVAGE WOLVERINE #15 ANMN [DIG] $3.99
DEC130735 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM UP #10 [DIG] $3.99
NOV130724 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN BY BRIAN WOOD TP VOL 03 [DIG] $17.99
DEC130747 UNCANNY X-MEN #17 [DIG] $3.99
DEC130674 X-MEN #11 ANMN [DIG] $3.99

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for January 8 2014

MARVEL COMICS

NOV130650 A PLUS X #16 $3.99
OCT130779 ALL NEW INVADERS #1 BY SINGH POSTER $8.99
NOV130543 ALL NEW MARVEL NOW POINT ONE #1 ANMN $5.99
OCT130780 ALL NEW MARVEL POINT ONE #1 BY LARROCA POSTER $8.99
NOV130607 ALL NEW X-FACTOR #1 ANMN $3.99
OCT130783 ALL NEW X-MEN #22.NOW BY IMMONEN POSTER $8.99
OCT130756 ALL NEW X-MEN INDESTRUCTIBLE HULK SSM ARMS OCTOPUS TP $14.99
OCT130757 ALL NEW X-MEN TP VOL 01 YESTERDAYS X-MEN $19.99
NOV130583 AVENGERS AI #8.NOW ANMN $2.99
NOV130569 AVENGERS WORLD #1 ANMN $3.99
OCT130786 AVENGERS WORLD #1 BY CASSADAY POSTER $8.99
NOV130587 BLACK WIDOW #1 ANMN $3.99
OCT130782 BLACK WIDOW #1 BY NOTO POSTER $8.99
NOV130688 CABLE AND X-FORCE #18 XFV $3.99
NOV130656 CATACLYSM ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #3 $3.99
OCT130671 CATACLYSM ULTIMATES LAST STAND #3 $3.99
NOV130649 DAREDEVIL DARK NIGHTS #8 $2.99
NOV130695 DEADPOOL #22 $2.99
OCT130767 FANTASTIC FOUR INHUMANS TP ATLANTIS RISING $39.99
NOV130699 FANTOMEX MAX #4 (MR) $3.99
OCT130768 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY BY JIM VALENTINO TP VOL 01 $34.99
OCT130784 GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #11.NOW BY PICHELLI POSTER $8.99
SEP130670 INFINITY HEIST #4 INF $3.99
NOV130617 INHUMANITY AWAKENING #2 $3.99
NOV130648 IRON MAN #20 $3.99
NOV130667 MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN #4 $3.99
NOV130679 MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #4 SYU $2.99
OCT130787 MIRACLEMAN #1 BY YU POSTER $8.99
NOV130700 PAINKILLER JANE PRICE OF FREEDOM #3 (MR) $2.99
NOV130642 REVOLUTIONARY WAR ALPHA #1 $3.99
NOV130602 SAVAGE WOLVERINE #14.NOW ANMN $3.99
OCT130758 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM-UP TP FRIENDLY FIRE $17.99
OCT130781 THUNDERBOLTS #20.NOW BY FLETCHER POSTER $8.99
NOV130693 WOLVERINE #13 $3.99
OCT130747 X-MEN BATTLE OF ATOM HC $49.99
NOV130653 YOUNG AVENGERS #15 $2.99

I Reads You Review: WOLVERINE #1

WOLVERINE (2013) #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

WRITER: Paul Cornell
PENCILS: Alan Davis
INKS: Mark Farmer
COLORS: Matt Hollingsworth
LETTERS: VC’s Cory Petit
COVER: Alan Davis and Mark Farmer with Jason Keith
VARIANT COVERS: Olivier Coipel; Salvador Larroca and Frank D’Armata; Humberto Ramos and Edgar Delgado; Skottie Young
28pp, Color, $3.99 (May 2013)

Parental Advisory

Until Demon Knights #1 (DC Comics, 2011), I disliked every comic book written by Paul Cornell that I read.  Now, I have found another one that has really grabs my imagination.  It is the new eponymous Wolverine comic book, part of the Marvel NOW initiative that has seen the re-launch of several Marvel titles.

Wolverine is written by Cornell and drawn penciller Alan Davis and his longtime inker, Mark Farmer.  This new series is not specifically a team-up series, but it will apparently feature some surprising guest appearances by Marvel characters, both the familiar, the surprising, and the unusual.

Trying to stay relatively spoiler free, I will say that Wolverine #1 (“Hunting Season” Part 1 of 4) opens with Wolverine in a bad way.  The cause is Robert Gregson, a 41-year-old man on a murderous rampage, and Gregson’s young son, Alex, may be the only person who can help Wolverine put an end to a massacre.

To me, Wolverine #1 simply works because Cornell manages to put Wolverine in a perilous situation, one in which he actually seems imperiled.  The longer these superhero characters are published, the more they become like indestructible demigods and the less like fragile humans with special abilities, which is what most Marvel characters are in their beginnings.  However, without revealing spoilers, I can say that I certainly thought Wolverine would be killed, and that made Wolverine #1 an exciting read.

The other reason I like this comic book is Alan Davis.  I love this comic book artist, and it is always a joy to read comic books drawn by Davis – even when the story isn’t that good.  He brings humanity to the characters, emphasizing their vulnerability over their super powers.  I look forward to following this Wolverine series – especially if both Cornell and Davis keep delivering the good stuff.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

Marvel Comics from Diamond Distributors for March 13 2013

MARVEL COMICS

JAN130634 AGE OF ULTRON #2 $3.99

DEC128322 ALL NEW X-MEN #2 3RD PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99

DEC128323 ALL NEW X-MEN #3 3RD PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99

DEC128324 ALL NEW X-MEN #4 3RD PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99

DEC128325 ALL NEW X-MEN #5 3RD PTG IMMONEN VAR NOW $3.99

DEC128326 ALL NEW X-MEN #7 2ND PTG MARQUEZ VAR NOW $3.99

JAN130716 ALPHA BIG TIME #2 $2.99

DEC128327 AVENGERS #4 2ND PTG KUBERT VAR NOW2 $3.99

JAN130659 AVENGERS ARENA #6 NOW $2.99

JAN130666 AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #13 NOW2 $3.99

DEC120737 AVENGERS SEASON ONE PREM HC $24.99

DEC120739 AVENGERS VS X-MEN TP AVENGERS ACADEMY $24.99

JAN130715 AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #18 $3.99

DEC120761 ESSENTIAL CAPTAIN MARVEL TP VOL 02 $19.99

JAN130689 FANTASTIC FOUR #5 NOW $2.99

JAN130703 FEARLESS DEFENDERS #2 NOW $2.99

DEC120756 GUARDIANS OF GALAXY TP VOL 02 TOMORROWS AVENGERS $39.99

DEC120744 HAWKEYE TP VOL 01 MY LIFE AS WEAPON NOW $16.99

JAN130793 MARVEL NOW X-MEN POSTER $8.99

JAN130740 MARVEL UNIVERSE AVENGERS EARTHS HEROES #12 $2.99

DEC128335 NEW AVENGERS #2 2ND PTG JOCK VAR NOW $3.99

DEC128336 NEW AVENGERS #3 2ND PTG JOCK VAR NOW $3.99

JAN130668 SECRET AVENGERS #2 NOW $3.99

DEC128332 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1 3RD PTG STEGMAN VAR NOW $3.99

JAN130682 THOR GOD OF THUNDER #6 NOW2 $3.99

JAN130710 THUNDERBOLTS #6 NOW $2.99

JAN130725 ULTIMATE COMICS WOLVERINE #1 $3.99

JAN130724 ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #24 $3.99

DEC128333 UNCANNY AVENGERS #3 2ND PTG CASSADAY VAR NOW $3.99

JAN130672 UNCANNY X-MEN #3 NOW $3.99

JAN130654 WOLVERINE #1 DAVIS SKETCH NOW $3.99

JAN130653 WOLVERINE #1 NOW $3.99

JAN130749 WOLVERINE AND X-MEN #26 $3.99

DEC120738 WOLVERINE ROT TP $19.99

DEC120753 X-FACTOR TP VOL 19 SHORT STORIES $15.99

JAN130707 X-MEN LEGACY #7 NOW2 $2.99

JAN130792 X-TERMINATION BY LARROCA POSTER $8.99

JAN130742 X-TREME X-MEN #12 XT $2.99

I Reads You Review: AVX: VERSUS #2

AVX: VERSUS #2 (OF 6)
MARVEL COMICS

WRITERS: Steve McNiven, Kieron Gillen
PENCILS: Steve McNiven, Salvador Larroca
INKS: John Dell, Salvador Larroca
COLORS: Morry Hollowell, Jim Charalampidis
LETTERS: VC’s Joe Caramagna
COVER: Salvador Larroca
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated: T+

Avengers Vs. X-Men was Marvel Comics’ most recent, big event, crossover series. The final issue was just released, but I mostly ignored the entire thing except for reading the #0 and #1 issues. However, I was recently going through a box of comic books given to me by fellow comics aficionado and comic book reviewer, Albert Avilla, when I came across AVX: VS #2.

I was confused by the title. Was this Avengers Vs. X-Men? But the first page of this comic book explains it all. This is Avengers versus the X-Men, but instead of big, sprawling team brawls, AVX: VS features one-on-one battles between individual members of the Avengers and the X-Men. To paraphrase the introduction: it’s not about plot, but about two superheroes pounding the snot out of each other. AVX: VS is a six-issue, tie-in miniseries to the main event, but even more than the main series, AVX: VS is pure fight comics.

AVX: VS #2 has two heavyweight bouts – Match 3 and 4 of this series. First, Avenger Captain America takes on X-Man, Gambit, in a story written and penciled by Steve McNiven with inks by John Dell. Then, Avenger, the Amazing Spider-Man, takes on a Juggernaut-enhanced Colossus of the X-Men in a story written by Kieron Gillen and drawn by Salvador Larroca.

I thought that Steven McNiven’s delicate line work and intricate cross-hatching would not work when trying to depict a fight between two superheroes that seem to be in constant motion. However, refined lines and precise cross-hatching are perfect for capturing combatants in static images with grace and beauty. When the panels are connected in the way that comics are read, this gracefully rendered artwork creates the illusion that these two characters are in motion and are fighting.

Salvador Larroca is quite good at drawing the exaggerated anatomy that has practically been the standard over the better part of the last three decades. It’s usually a mixed bag with Larroca. Sometimes, his superhero figure drawing looks ugly or even anal in its delineation of every nook and cranny of bulging muscles. Other times, Larroca gets it just right, as he does here.

He captures the inherent gangly nature of Spider-Man’s physique while giving him the grace of a dancer and the precise skill of an acrobat. Larroca turns Colossus into a body-building mass of destruction and transforms his body into a force of nature driven by muscle power. The second and third pages of the Spider-Man/Colossus bout form a double-page spread that encapsulates how fittingly Larroca depicts the two characters.

Story? Who needs story with fight comic book art like this?

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux