By Daniel Cole
Daniel Cole brings you episode #004 of the Six Shooter!
Welcome to the Six Shooter! This is a weekly column that will review six specific comics. Big new releases, small interesting titles and random curiosities. All will be looked at. The way it works is that there will be a brief review of the comics followed by our rating system. Our ratings are:
Headshot(Best of the week)
Hit (Read)
Miss (Don’t Read)
Misfire (Worst of the week)
This week is full of zombies, mysteries, reinvented superheroes and Darth Vader. It’s another eclectic collection of titles. So lets do this!
AMELIA COLE AND THE HIDDEN WAR #2 – MONKEY BRAIN COMICS
It seems that there have been many attempts at exploring magic since the introduction of a certain boy wizard.
Written by Adam P. Knave & D.J. Kirkbride
Art by Nick Brokenshire
It seems that there have been many attempts at exploring magic since the introduction of a certain boy wizard. Amelia Cole is not specifically geared towards the same market as Mr Potter though.
Knave and Kirkbride blend superhero and militaristic elements into this magical themed world and the outcome is mixed at best. There is nothing inherently wrong with the concept, but it seems like the execution is a little lacking. This is mainly due to a weak main narrative and bad dialogue. Amelia herself has too much “attitude,” which makes her an unlikable lead. Her thoughts are displayed in text boxes that don’t engage. Although they are intended to add depth to Amelia, they’re too forced and come off as superficial statements.
The narrative of the issue is well paced and the structure works well. But the content is a little uninspiring. The whole plot revolves around Amelia waking up and getting back into the game whilst The Omega Company find something in the desert. It may move the overall plot forward, but it lacks a hook to keep you interested. The opening flashback about Lemmy is the only part of the narrative that is engaging.
Brokenshire’s art is solid. The use of slanted layouts for the action scenes gives them a sense of motion. His character depictions work for the script and have a charming quality about them. However the backgrounds are bare and the colouring is flat, which adds to the issue’s problems.
The title’s concept is lost due to this issue’s mediocre presentation. The narrative is uninteresting and the script is marred by terrible dialogue. It isn’t the worst read you’ll ever have but it is utterly forgettable.
SIX SHOOTER RATING – MISS
X-FILES SEASON 10 #1 – IDW PUBLISHING
The issue’s moody visuals give the book a distinct quality and the writing is solid.
Written by Joe Harris (script) & Chris Carter (Story)
Art by Michael Walsh & Jordie Bellaire
This continuation of the cult TV show certainly starts like an episode of the X-Files, with a teaser before the title sequence. The issue’s moody visuals give the book a distinct quality and the writing is solid.
Walsh’s pencils might be simplistic in some respects. But his Mulder, Scully and Skinner look like their real life counterparts and there is much to appreciate from that alone. The big spacious panels evoke the feeling that you are watching television and the layouts are simple but effective. Empty panel space is used to accentuate a reveal (Mulder) and the heavy inking gives the book a noir quality that really works. As always colourist Jordie Bellaire is on fine form with her colours giving a depth to the art.
Harris’ script has the unenviable task of living up to the fans of the show. But he is more than up to the challenge. His character work shines more than the actual plot. Mulder and Scully are fleshed out and Harris make’s sure new readers can get in on the action as well. The interplay between the characters is fun, but some of Mulder’s humour does fall flat.
The only problem really is the plot. Granted Harris and Carter have to get their main characters back into the game, but it seems a little too contrived. The central mystery might hook a lot of readers, but the “someone hacked into the X-Files” angle isn’t the best opening gambit for this series.
However this is a title that will please both fans and new readers. As a first issue it’s a success. It has a great visual identity and the characters are engaging. The plot may not be exciting, but it has enough about it to make most readers come back for the next instalment.
SIX SHOOTER RATING – HIT
ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #24 – MARVEL COMICS
Bendis has made both Cloak and Dagger instantly likable as characters.
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by David Marquez & Justin Ponser
This issue is all about (re)introducing Cloak and Dagger to the Ultimate Universe. Their powers are the same, but their origin has had a much-needed overhaul. Bendis manages to link these new heroes to the Roxxon brain trust, who have been scheming for a while now. Bendis fills the issue with bad pseudo science and his talking head style does slow the pace of the narrative somewhat. But the new origin makes sense and surrounding it with science fiction elements keeps it in line with Ultimate Spider-man’s universe.
Bendis has made both Cloak and Dagger instantly likable as characters. There is history there and the flashbacks provide the reader with a succinct background to them both. However this being a Spider-man comic you’d expect he’d make an appearance. Well Mile Morales is still grieving from his mother’s death. Bendis continues the “I’ve quit” storyline and although it works in theory, Morales is barely in this issue. Therefore this aspect of the issue has no weight as Bendis is more focused on his new toys. He sacrifices Mile’s continued development to showcase his new take on Cloak and Dagger.
But for any problems the script has David Marquez more than makes up for it with his art. It is quite literally beautifully to look art. He has an eye for the human form and he is easily one of the best character artist working in comics. Every emotion is captured perfectly. His pencils are detailed, clean and dynamic. His fight scenes are kinetic and pop off the page. The redesigns of Cloak and Dagger aren’t especially inspiring, but Marquez sells them. Especially Cloak who is a wonderful visual.
The comic succeeds as an introduction to new characters. But it does little to truly move along Mile’s story. He is somewhat of an afterthought. But the art is excellent and that alone makes this issue worth a read.
SIX SHOOTER RATING – HIT
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER AND THE NINTH ASSASSIN #3 – DARK HORSE COMICS
He dispatches enemies, leaps around and walks menacingly. He does everything that Darth Vader does and it is presented perfectly.
Written by Tim Siedell
Art by Ivan Fernández, Denis Freitas & Michael Atiyeh
The creative team deliver a nearly silent issue that just has Vader searching for answers. It isn’t a revelatory character study and it isn’t something that deepens the Star Wars mythology. It’s a comic that show’s off how utterly cool the character can be. He dispatches enemies, leaps around and walks menacingly. He does everything that Darth Vader does and it is presented perfectly.
Siedell essentially lets Fernández tell the story through the visuals. But the script has a great pace to it and the limited dialogue delivers both exposition and characterisation. The less Vader speaks means that when he does it has impact. Cold and practical seem to be his defining traits. This less is more approach to the script really elevates this simple story.
Fernández does the heavy lifting and he does it well. Vast landscapes, alien beasts and lightsaber action are handled with the same level of detail. The book looks great and it is impressive that Fernández can create some distinct emotional reactions on the blank armoured faces of the issue’s cast. Best of all is the way in which he inserts heroic imagery into certain scenes, for example Vader putting his lightsaber back after killing a creature.
It isn’t the most interesting plot, but the execution is excellent. The lack of dialogue is a boon to the issue. There is little depth here, but the Sith Lord will entertain you.
SIX SHOOTER RATING – HEADSHOT
EXTINCTION PARADE #1 – AVATAR PRESS
The author of World War Z adds another zombie tale to his bibliography.
Written by Mark Brooks
Art by Raulo Caceres & Digikore Studios
The author of World War Z adds another zombie tale to his bibliography. But this has a twist as Brooks decides to tackle another highly popular supernatural creature, the vampire.
From the off Brooks wastes no time in introducing everything you need to know about his new concept. Vampires are arrogant and have underestimated the threat zombies present. Brooks criticises previous popular incarnations of vampires, but crucially he doesn’t build a unique angle for his own interpretation. The main character’s narration is overwrought and reminiscent of other fictional vampires (namely Lestat). The whole concept is overplayed and makes for quite a tiresome read.
The art is rough, but the colouring has a bizarre sheen to it. This is due to the way in which the character and backgrounds are shaded. Caceres pencils are in direct conflict with Digikore’s colours and the book doesn’t quite come together visually. The detailed rotting corpses and violence impress, but it isn’t anything we haven’t seen before.
And that is what the main problem is with the issue. The familiar visual and narrative elements detract from the main concept, which isn’t that interesting to begin with. It may set-up the overall plot and characters, but Mark Brooks’ script is utterly uninspired. The Extinction Parade is a lifeless book with nothing to offer.
SIX SHOOTER RATING – MISFIRE
BATWOMAN #21 – DC COMICS
As always the book’s visual structure is impressive and Francavilla has a lot of fun playing with the layouts. The crocodile theme is a stroke of genius and makes the book a great visual experience.
Written by J.H. Williams III & W. Haden Blackman
Art by Francesco Francavilla
This newest issue of Batwoman focuses on Killer Croc as we get a break from the main narrative.
As always the book’s visual structure is impressive and Francavilla has a lot of fun playing with the layouts. The crocodile theme is a stroke of genius and makes the book a great visual experience. However Francavilla’s actual art within the panels is a little inconsistent. The tone of the script doesn’t exactly go with the pencils, which often look a little cartoonish. The quality of the art changes throughout as detailed character work becomes simplistic by the end of the issue.
But Williams and Blackman’s script is good enough to hide the arts problems. Killer Croc’s narration is filled with character. There are moments of humour to be had, but the overall narrative actually explores Croc’s life. The writing team manage to make Croc empathetic and the plot actually earns its happy ending.
Although the art lets the issue down somewhat, the actual panel layouts and the script are enough to call this issue a successful character piece. Williams and Blackman continue to provide DC with one of its better titles.
SIX SHOOTER RATING – HIT
Verdict
Overall it has been a good week. A surprising star performance from Darth Vader has been the standout comic. Proving that good storytelling can come from a great understanding of how to use the medium. The good outweighs the bad for another week and although there was one utter failure of an issue, it is a good time to enjoy comics.
Do you agree with the reviews? Did we get them wrong or right? Have any suggests on what we should review next week? Get in touch in the comments section.
For more comic views and reviews follow Dan on Twitter at @gizmo151183
Posted on June 21st, 2013
Category: REVIEWS, SIX SHOOTER
Tags: Amelia Cole and the Hidden War #2 Review, Avatar Press, Batwoman #21 Review, brian michael bendis, Daniel Cole, Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Extinction Parade #1 Review, marvel comics, Six Shooter #004, Star Wars Darth Vader and the Ninth Assasin #3 Review, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #24 Review, X-Files Season 10 #1 Review
So, the first wave of Marvel NOW! titles has officially come to end with the release of this week’s all new book simply titled X-Men (featuring an all female X-Men team). With a second wave already in the works, why don’t we take a look at what you should be reading from wave 1.
(Note, although I have done a pretty good job at keeping up with most of the new NOW! books there are some that have slipped through my fingers. A+X, FF, X-Men: Legacy, Cable and X-Force, Thunderbolts, Morbius: The Living Vampire, Savage Wolverine, Young Avengers, Fearless Defenders, Savage Wolverine, Wolverine are some of the books I haven’t been on board with for strictly financial reasons. Young Avengers appears to be the most talked about of the books I’ve listed).
All New X-Men introduces us to the original X-Men who are bought into our time to try and stop Cyclops and his Uncanny X-Men.
All New X-Men: This (and Superior Spider-Man) is my 2nd favorite of the NOW titles. ANXM introduces us to the original X-Men who are bought into our time to try and stop Cyclops and his Uncanny X-Men. ANXM also does a great job introducing us to all these characters while at the same time it incorporates an interesting story that continues to impress every month. The premiere X-book IS All New X-Men, it has something for new and old fans of the X-Men. Brian Michael Bendis is on top of his game here.
Brian Michael Bendis continues to do a great job at re-introducing and modernizing older characters.
Guardians of the Galaxy: GOTG is another solid entry for NOW, as it re-introduces (see a trend?) the Guardians of the Galaxy (Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, Groot, Rocket Raccoon and Iron Man) as they defend Earth from intergalactic threats. Brian Michael Bendis continues to do a great job at re-introducing and modernizing older characters. He seems to be setting up a solid story and with a universe as big as Marvel’s there will not be a shortage of villains or dangers.
New Avengers: Funny how the Avengers/New Avengers books, it is the “second” book that is getting most of my intention. Is isn’t because Avengers is not an interesting book ( on the contrary) but it seems that New Avengers with it’s smaller cast and more focused story arc is what continues to bring me back. Even though it’s a bit confusing.
Nova: Marvel’s continued focus on the cosmic characters of its universe continues with Nova. We have a brand new Nova (Sam Alexander) as he becomes one of the youngest Nova’s in history. This book seems to be aimed at younger readers but it’s the light hearted story with just the right amount of character development that makes this a great read.
The most controversial and talked about NOW titles is Superior Spider-Man.
Superior Spider-Man: The most controversial and talked about NOW titles is Superior Spider-Man, as Doctor Octopus takes over Peter Parker as Spider-Man as he sets out to be the Superior hero. Although much of the controversy surrounding the absence of Peter Parker has disappeared, Dan Slott still continues to find ways to shock the reader and it continues to bring me back in to find out what is going to happen next to Spider-Man. And with a load of guest stars set for the next few issues the lives of Spider-Man and his Superior friends looks like it will get a bit worse before it gets any better.
X-Men: With only one issue to its name, I was hesitant to even put this on the list. X-Men had such an incredible introductory chapter and a solid cast that makes me believe this book will be a success.
Captain Marvel is a solid character driven book that every comic book fan should own.
Captain Marvel: As one of the only female lead books (the other’s being X-Men and Fearless Defenders) Captain Marvel continues to break new ground and set new standards for female lead books. Captain Marvel is a solid character driven book that every comic book fan should own.
It almost seems like a Dark Avengers version of ANXM and WATXM.
Uncanny X-Men: With so many X-titles on the shelves today it takes a lot to be considered different than the rest. And Uncanny X-Men is indeed different, focusing on a rebel group of X-Men we get an incredible story that shows what the world thinks of the X-Men and what the X-Men think of the X-Men. It almost seems like a Dark Avengers version of ANXM and WATXM. Bottom line is that this is a can’t miss book.
Secret Avengers: another Avengers book, that some how manages to take a different approach and makes it work. This book seems to follow more of the cinematic Marvel Universe and puts Black Widow, Hawkeye and company into smaller secret missions that don’t require the reader to buy several books to know what’s going on.
Uncanny X-Force: Initially off to a slow start, UXF has found its voice and story and is starting to create something really great. Keep an eye on this one.
The most fun you will have reading a comic book this year, great story and funny character moments help give Wade Wilson a truly fantastic book.
Deadpool: The most fun you will have reading a comic book this year, great story and funny character moments help give Wade Wilson a truly fantastic book.
Avengers: The premiere Avengers book, Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers finds a way to include all of our favorite Avengers and still give everyone their own time to shine. The massive story is inching at about a snail’s pace but with Infinity right around the corner you be can sure that this is leading to something BIG.
That’s it for now, stay tuned as I give my picks on who should be getting books in Wave 2!
For more comic views and reviews follow Ruben on Twitter at @Ruben_Mendoza and check out his YouTube channel over at http://youtube.com/rubenm33
Posted on June 6th, 2013
Category: NEWS & VIEWS, THE BURRITO BANDITO
Tags: All New X-Men, avengers, brian michael bendis, Burrito Bandito, Captain Marvel, Comic Reviews, Deadpool, Marvel Now!, Ruben Mendoza, Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, Young Avengers
Time travel, it seems, is unavoidable in this tale. I could be wrong of course, and by god I hope I am, but right now to me this feels like a certainty.
SPOILERS CONTAINED WITHIN!
A chromium cover? I don’t think I have bought one of these since the 90′s, and it brings forth both a pleasant trip down memory lane and an embarrassed chuckle. There’s just something about it that feels quite tacky to me but I am unsure why. Visually it works and I can’t help but take greater care with it as though the shine coincides with value. Still, it’s an interesting throwback that reminds me of how long it has been since I read a comic with Ultron in it. I also mentioned at the top that this review contains spoilers but I do feel as though the comic itself should have come with the same warning. I will get into that later.
The main Achilles’ heel with this kind of setting is that it must allow for the Marvel Universe to “heal” again.
The story drops us right in the middle of a new world. The one we knew has gone and in it’s rubble grows a monstrosity of technology casting it’s shadow across the devastation left by a seemingly great war. Instantly alarm bells rang as I read the first few pages. The main Achilles’ heel with this kind of setting is that it must allow for the Marvel Universe to “heal” again. It could never undergo such drastic changes without some sort of event acting as a cosmic reset button since no amount of damage control could rebuild an entire world. Time travel, it seems, is unavoidable in this tale. I could be wrong of course, and by god I hope I am, but right now to me this feels like a certainty.
The most frustrating part of this issue however was Peter Parker’s character.
As far as artwork goes I was equally unsold. I personally enjoy comic art to be bold and crisp such as the work of Stuart Immonen or Humberto Ramos. The work that penciler Bryan Hitch, inker Paul Neary, and colorist Paul Mounts have done for “Age Of Ultron” complements the atmosphere of the tale brilliantly but I just didn’t enjoy a large quantity of the panels. There’s a huge amount of detail in some panels where the line-work and shadows are so dense that it brings me right back to the 90′s, where as others seem to lack detail entirely. The angle of the scene where Emma Frost first appears would, in my opinion, have been better if it was an upward shot to complement Peter Parker’s view. That particular panel was frustratingly bare to me although I am sure I am the only person in the world that it bothered.
The angle of the scene where Emma Frost first appears would, in my opinion, have been better if it was an upward shot to complement Peter Parker’s view. That particular panel was frustratingly bare to me although I am sure I am the only person in the world that it bothered.
The most frustrating part of this issue however was Peter Parker’s character. The dialogue was witty, with great banter between characters. It was the Parker we all love and it was great to see him back on form. One problem. Parker has not been “himself” recently in the “Superior Spider-man” series. This brings me to the “spoiler” I feel this comic contains. I refuse to believe that Bendis has no idea on the recent happenings in the Spider-man character, and even if he had somehow managed to be completely oblivious, someone in the process would have been sure to correct him during the proof reading phase. We all know that Parker will no doubt end up in his own body again as is repeatedly hinted at even by himself (Superior Spider-man #5 – “when I get that body back I’ll have to work off an Otto Octavious-sized gut!”) but to have it dangled in front of us in the future world it takes away the feeling of “what if”. Again, there is always the possibility that I have misread the situation and it’s entirely possible that Parker’s and Otto’s minds merge into one in a strange twist of fate and this is the outcome we are seeing. Who knows. Right now however it feels like a slip up of sorts.
The dialogue was witty, with great banter between characters.
As a whole the comic is intriguing and I will definitely be buying the rest of the run. Especially with the fact that Joe Quesada will be drawing the final pages of Age Of Ultron himself. The art not being to my personal tastes aside it really isn’t as bad as I have perhaps made it sound. I’m just hoping the world being fixed at the end (still betting on time travel) won’t leave me feeling like I have just watched an “it was all a dream” episode from a bad sitcom.
Dont forget to follow Steve on Facebook at Steve Tasteslikedoom Fable or @SteveFable on Twitter and check out his website at www.Tasteslikedoom.co.uk
Click here to view Age Of Ultron comics
Posted on March 16th, 2013
Category: REVIEWS, SMELLS LIKE GEEK
Tags: Age of Ultron #1 Review, avengers, brian michael bendis, Bryan Hitch, Comic Reviews, marvel comics, Smells Like Geek, spider-man, Steve Tasteslikedoom Fable, Steve Tipple, Ultron
Last Thanksgiving, Marvel announced the first event of 2013 would be the Age of Ultron.
Last Thanksgiving, Marvel announced the first event of 2013 would be the Age of Ultron. Written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Bryan Hitch, Brandon Peterson and Carlos Pacheco will help tell us the story of Ultron (an Android created by Hank Pym) taking over the world as what’s left of the world’s heroes tries to form a resistance to stop him.
Written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Bryan Hitch, Brandon Peterson and Carlos Pacheco will help tell us the story of Ultron (an Android created by Hank Pym) taking over the world as what’s left of the world’s heroes tries to form a resistance to stop him.
Now, I haven’t been into comics for long but I’ve read a bit about Ultron from Avenger runs so I know a little about the guy (or girl in one case) that being said, this is just a guide to what to read and offers some predictions as to what will be the fallout of this event. So, here we go!
Here’s a small guide of what you should pick up to get to know Ultron.
Mighty Avengers – The Ultron Initiative
A great start for any new Marvel fan in regards to Ultron’s origin. We get a fantastic story where Ultron takes over the body of Tony Stark, as the rest of the Avengers try to save the day.
A great start for any new Marvel fan in regards to Ultron’s origin.
The Avengers – Volume 1 Bendis
Splitting up the Avenger team into two (one team time traveling into the future, while the other stays to protect New York) Iron Man learns of a dark future and what awaits him and his friends if they fail to stop Ultron. What makes this story arc so interesting is that the event shows future events before they happened (Fear Itself) and that both Captain America and Iron Man saw futures where all hope was lost.
These are just some suggestions to further understand Ultron and his motives, or you can be like me and just jump straight into Age of Ultron (with ties ins!) Now, let’s get to those predictions. My predictions will become crazier as the list goes up, so bear with me.
This one may be the most obvious of all choices, but I know how much Marvel loves to break apart happy couples so I’m going with this one first.
The solicits talk about Wolverine making a controversial decision that will effect the entire Marvel Universe, so why not have him kill the man that created Ultron.
What if Hope Summers is the one to defeat Ultron?
SUBMIT OR PERISH!
For more comic views and reviews follow Ruben on Twitter at @Ruben_Mendoza and check out his YouTube channel over at http://youtube.com/rubenm33
Click here to view Age Of Ultron comics
Posted on March 2nd, 2013
Category: NEWS & VIEWS, REVIEWS, THE BURRITO BANDITO
Tags: Age Of Ultron, Age Of Ultron Preview, avengers, Brandon Peterson, brian michael bendis, Bryan Hitch, Burrito Bandito, Carlos Pacheco, Comic Review, marvel comics, Ruben Mendoza
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art and Cover by STUART IMMONEN
This is it. Cyclops vs Cyclops!
This is it. Cyclops vs Cyclops!
Cyclops inner monologue shows that there is still quite a bit of dark tendencies left in him, something that Magneto tells him as well.
The Positive
After a bit of a side step with the 3rd issue, Bendis quickly regains his senses and gives the culture clash we’ve been waiting for. The initial shock of the original X-Men as they see what Cyclops was is one of the great comic book moments. You could feel some of the innocence being lost as these characters get a glimpse of their future counterparts in action. So many new and interesting plot points have emerged with this issue and it’s guaranteeing some great stories in the future. We also have a fantastic monologue with Cyclops as he tries to break down why his past self is here; his inner monologue shows that there is still quite a bit of dark tendencies left in him, something that Magneto tells him as well. Bendis does a great job of adding humor and at the same time presenting us with deeply rooted characters, this is some of his best work.
Bendis does a great job of adding humor and at the same time presenting us with deeply rooted characters, this is some of his best work.
The Negative
Everything here was fantastic.
This is definitely a series that every X-fan should be buying; it has everything you could possibly want as a fan.
The Verdict
This is definitely a series that every X-fan should be buying; it has everything you could possibly want as a fan. It’s almost like they could split this up into two different books…sigh
5 out of 5!
For more comic views and reviews follow Ruben on Twitter at @Ruben_Mendoza and check out his YouTube channel over at http://youtube.com/rubenm33
Click here to view All-New X-Men comics
Posted on January 24th, 2013
Category: REVIEWS, THE BURRITO BANDITO
Tags: All New X-Men, All-New X-Men #4 Review, brian michael bendis, Burrito Bandito, Comic Reviews, Cyclops, marvel comics, Mutants, Ruben Mendoza, Stuart Immonen, Wolverine, X-Men
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art and Cover by STUART IMMONEN
If you like Cyclops or Magneto this is the issue for you.
I had to pull myself away from this comic a few times, because I wasn’t sure if I was reading All New X-Men #3 or an issue of Uncanny X-Men #21. This issue focuses more on the fallout of AVX and what happened to the Phoenix Five.
The Phoenix Four (Cyclops, Magneto, Magik, Emma Frost) powers seem to be all over the scale and uncontrollable.
The Positive
The Phoenix Four (Cyclops, Magneto, Magik, Emma Frost) powers seem to be all over the scale and uncontrollable. Cyclops isn’t able to focus his optic blasts (shown in the art by its chaotic style) Magneto’s power to control metal seems to have diminished greatly, and Emma can’t read minds or so she says. The only one that doesn’t seem to have been affected is Magik, whose powers might have actually gotten stronger. This is probably the most interesting part of this issue, why have the X-Men’s powers weakened? Is it because of the Phoenix Force? Or is something more sinister going on here? This is what all of those post AVX stories should have focused on, and Bendis executes this storyline well.
The only one that doesn’t seem to have been affected is Magik, whose powers might have actually gotten stronger.
The Negative
Hey, if you like Cyclops or Magneto this is the issue for you. I really liked what Bendis was doing with the original X-Men and was just wondering why he would switch gears so quickly, and badly to give us this story. The story could have been told in half an issue and instead takes a full book. I don’t get Magik, not a real big fan of hers and the fact that her powers have gotten stronger just irritates me.
The New Mutant revolution BEGINS!
The Verdict
While this issue isn’t as strong as the previous, All New X-Men #3 still has some interesting things going on.
3 out of 5.
For more comic views and reviews follow Ruben on Twitter at @Ruben_Mendoza and check out his YouTube channel over at http://youtube.com/rubenm33
Click here to view All-New X-Men comics
Posted on January 21st, 2013
Category: REVIEWS, THE BURRITO BANDITO
Tags: All New X-Men, All-New X-Men #3 Review, brian michael bendis, Burrito Bandito, Comic Reviews, Cyclops, marvel comics, Mutants, Ruben Mendoza, Stuart Immonen, Wolverine, X-Men
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art and Cover by STUART IMMONEN
When we last left the Young X-Men, they were confronted by Beast (of our time), and brought to the future in order to maybe change recent events
When we last left the Young X-Men, they were confronted by Beast (of our time), and brought to the future in order to maybe change recent events. The big questions are what will happen when the Young X-Men meet their future shelves, and what will Cyclops do when he sees Jean Grey.
I knew that Brian Michael Bendis would handle the characters and their interactions well and so far he has done a tremendous job.
The Positive
I knew that Brian Michael Bendis would handle the characters and their interactions well and so far he has done a tremendous job. The young X-Men each have distinct character types and play them so well; it’s familiar and different all at the same time. The fish out of water story plays very well here too; as the young team looks on in wonder at their new surrounding and their commentary during the process is very meta and funny. The old X-Men aren’t without their comedic quips here either, as we get some classic lines from Ice Man and a few from Kitty Pryde too. The story feels very light hearted (the calm before the Phoenix) and Bendis handles the X-Men so well that I wish he’d started writing X-Men comics sooner than he did.
The story feels very light hearted (the calm before the Phoenix)…
The Negative
I could not pull anything negative out of this issue, amazing work from the writing to the art.
The Verdict
This is a time traveling story worth telling; If you are a fan of Brian Michael Bendis or the X-Men, go out and buy this. This is the only X-Men book you truly need!
5 out of 5!
This is a time traveling story worth telling; If you are a fan of Brian Michael Bendis or the X-Men, go out and buy this. This is the only X-Men book you truly need!
For more comic views and reviews follow Ruben on Twitter at @Ruben_Mendoza and check out his YouTube channel over at http://youtube.com/rubenm33
Click here to view All-New X-Men comics
Posted on January 16th, 2013
Category: REVIEWS, THE BURRITO BANDITO
Tags: All New X-Men, All-New X-Men #2 Review, brian michael bendis, Burrito Bandito, Comic Reviews, Cyclops, marvel comics, Mutants, Ruben Mendoza, Stuart Immonen, Wolverine, X-Men
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art and Cover by STUART IMMONEN
Bendis uses familiar story plots as he puts Cyclops in the role of Magneto as he takes his own team around the world looking for more mutants, sort of like a new Brotherhood.
I was a bit worried about All New X-Men when I first heard about it, time traveling Mutants in an already crowded X-Universe didn’t sound like the best idea. However, Brain Michael Bendis is at the helm of this one and although things still aren’t quite clear, he looks to be having these X-Men going in the right direction.
The introduction of new mutant Eva was also done quite nicely, and her powers may be a game changer for whatever side she decides to join.
The Good
I am on mutant/avenger overload thanks to AvX so I went into this one a little skeptical. Bendis uses familiar story plots as he puts Cyclops in the role of Magneto as he takes his own team around the world looking for more mutants, sort of like a new Brotherhood. The introduction of new mutant Eva was also done quite nicely, and her powers may be a game changer for whatever side she decides to join. The artwork is fantastic here as well, the entire book is a treat to look at.
The Bad
Not a whole lot of the original X-Men are in this book, we do get bits and pieces of them but for the most part, this is a Beast/Cyclops story. Which is kind of a drag here, I understand you must setup a reason to have the X-Men come into the future, instead we get the same old characters doing the same old thing.
Bendis handles the X-Men with great efficency and I personally cannot wait to see the original X-Men meet up with their future counterparts and witness the events in the 616 Universe.
The Verdict
Although most of the story is going over familiar ground, there is enough here to get me excited for the series moving forward. Bendis handles the X-Men with great efficency and I personally cannot wait to see the original X-Men meet up with their future counterparts and witness the events in the 616 Universe.
For more comic views and reviews follow Ruben on Twitter at @Ruben_Mendoza and check out his YouTube channel over at http://youtube.com/rubenm33
Click here to view All-New X-Men comics
Posted on January 9th, 2013
Category: REVIEWS, THE BURRITO BANDITO
Tags: All New X-Men, All-New X-Men #1 Review, brian michael bendis, Burrito Bandito, Comic Reviews, Cyclops, marvel comics, Mutants, Ruben Mendoza, Stuart Immonen
Marvel fans knew that there would be major changes on the horizon after the Avengers vs. X-Men event, but few had any idea that Marvel would do a Relaunch.
Marvel fans knew that there would be major changes on the horizon after the Avengers vs. X-Men event, but few had any idea that Marvel would do a Relaunch. Dubbed Marvel NOW! This is more or less a direct response to DC’s New 52 (DC also rebooted their Universe last summer with very positive results) which will launch later this year. Marvel has made it clear that this isn’t a complete reboot but more of a new beginning for new readers to jump onto. While it’s a very exciting time for new readers (as well as old) there is some concern, Marvel has already announced the cancellation of several titles with more expected to come. Today, we will look at some of the new Marvel NOW! titles as well as some of the cancelled ones.
ALL NEW X-MEN – Brian Michael Bendis
It’s going to be very interesting to see how the X-Men handle the modern times, and how Bendis will expand on the characters themselves, plus Jean Grey is back!
Bendis on an X-Men title…YES! YES! YES! Although his stories don’t always come together, Bendis can write the hell out of characters (in a good way) and what better characters than the original X-Men. This new comic will focus on the original 1960s team of X-Men (Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel and Marvel Girl/Jean Grey) as they are time warped into the modern day Marvel Universe. It’s going to be very interesting to see how the X-Men handle the modern times, and how Bendis will expand on the characters themselves, plus Jean Grey is back! The thing that worries me is time traveling is never a good sign for a character as it tends to complicate and confuse things. We already have a Cyclops, Beast, Angel and Iceman in the modern Marvel Universe, why do we need another of each of them? Is this a spoiler for the remainder of AVX, will these characters meet their demise and rather than erase them from existence we’re going to have the time traveling X-Men replace them? The universe doesn’t need two Cyclops…two Emma Frosts’ would be nice though…
UNCANNY AVENGERS – Rick Remender
Remender will be starting a new comic that will mash up the Avengers and X-Men into one All-Star team…The Uncanny Avengers!
Remender will be starting a new comic that will mash up the Avengers and X-Men into one All-Star team…The Uncanny Avengers! I really enjoy Uncanny X-Force and Venom (both by Remender) so I am really excited to see what he has in store for Uncanny Avengers. It is kind of troubling to see yet another Avengers/X-Men comic out on the shelf, which may overexpose some already too prominent characters (Wolverine…I’m looking at you bub). A cover has already been released for the October #1 issue which features; Wolverine, Captain America, Thor, Rogue, Scarlet Witch and Havok front and center, very interesting that Iron Man and Cyclops, two of the biggest names of both teams are absent from the series…or the cover at the very least. Remender has said that the first arc will feature a story with the Red Skull who plans to eliminate all mutants, which is a great story to start with. We are not only getting to see Captain America fight against his greatest enemy but it also plays into a common threat the X-Men have been fighting their entire existence. This will be the most interesting comic for the last half of the year, keep your eyes out for it. Plus, Remender isn’t afraid to kill off characters….just read X-Force. Be very afraid for these characters.
AVENGERS – Jonathan Hickman
The things we do know about the comic is that the comic will be bi monthly, and feature both popular and lesser known characters as well.
I’m very excited to see Hickman on the Avengers! Hickman’s run on Fantastic Four has been legendary and I expect no less from his Avenger run. The things we do know about the comic is it will be bi monthly, and feature both popular and lesser known characters as well. I also fully expect to get some cosmic events out of this too; this is going to be a fun ride. The Avengers is supposed to expand the roster to 18 which should bring some interesting interactions (in theory) between the characters as well as their stories. Comics tend to focus on action stories, with very good reason but I feel character interaction/development can be just as interesting and exciting.
CANCELLED
Current titles announced to be cancelled include The Mighty Thor, Captain America, Fantastic Four, FF and the Incredible Hulk.
With all the excitement of the new books coming out, there were some that were announced to be cancelled. Captain America, Fantastic Four, FF, Incredible Hulk, Invincible Iron Man, New Mutants, The Mighty Thor, Uncanny X-Men and X-Men Legacy. There will probably be more books cancelled and re-released with new numbering in the near future as well. Rumors have been swirling that Daniel Way will be leaving Deadpool (NOOOO!) soon and Dan Slott may also be leaving the Amazing Spider-Man after issue #700. I am fairly confident that most if not all of these comics will be renewed in one form or another but still it is kind of sad to see them go. I just jumped onto Uncanny X-Men and Incredible Hulk (just launched this past year) and they’re both going to be cancelled?! It is kind of suspect that both books lost steam at the exact same time, probably because there wasn’t a future for either comic. The Fantastic Four and Future Foundation cancellation is a big surprise, but with Hickman leaving for Avengers it was probably wise to start fresh rather than continue the series, the same can be said for Fraction and Iron Man. Marvel Now! will also see the end of Ed Brubaker’s epic Captain America run, although I haven’t been keeping up with Cap like I should (I mean…he’s Captain America and all) I did catch a few issues here and there of Brubaker’s run and loved it. Whoever takes over the shield (writer) will have big shoes to fill. X-Men will have a lot of their books cancelled after AVX and it’s going to be interesting to see if they combine what’s left of the splintered teams into one giant team or split them up with Wolverine and the X-Men (a couple of new teachers would be nice) I think a more modern X-Men comic should be in order (not like All New X-Men) maybe throw Fraction on it?
THE FUTURE AND BEYOND
Marvel has a lot of question marks going into the future and will surely suffer some growing pains.
Marvel has a lot of question marks going into the future; the shuffling of writers to different comics, the cancellation of several mainstream comics, and some writers leaving series’. Marvel is in store for some growing pains. I respect that Marvel can see their current approach has gotten stale and something needed to be done to freshen things up a bit. I’m not a big fan of the half rebooted universe, if you are going to reboot…reboot the entire universe and start from scratch. That’s where DC is finding mistakes, with a half rebooted universe you will certainly run into continuity problems. Regardless, it is a very exciting time to be a comic fan and comic collector. The future is Marvel NOW!
You can follow Ruben on Twitter at @Ruben_Mendoza
Posted on August 2nd, 2012
Category: NEWS & VIEWS, PREVIEWS & UPCOMING RELEASES, THE BURRITO BANDITO
Tags: All New X-Men, avengers, brian michael bendis, Burrito Bandito, Jonathan Hickman, marvel comics, Marvel Now!, Marvel Now! review, Rick Remender, Ruben Mendoza, Uncanny Avengers
This issue is about the direct fallout of AvX with the X-Men keeping Spider-Woman, Hawkeye and Luke Cage as prisoners of War.
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art and Cover by Mike Deodato JR
While Wolverine and the X-Men is still the best tie in comic during the AVX event, New Avengers is a close second. This issue is about the direct fallout of AvX with the X-Men keeping Spider-Woman, Hawkeye and Luke Cage as prisoners of War.
A prison breakout with a great twist ending that leaves an impression long after you are done reading it.
The Positive
The story, oh mercy…the story! A prison breakout with a great twist ending that leaves an impression long after you are done reading it. The art is fantastic, I wish Deodato was doing the entire AVX run, would be so much better.
Doesnt look like it's all sunshine and lollipops here for the New Avengers!
The Negative
Nothing…all sunshine and lollipops here guys.
The Verdict
If you want a great story with even better art then go and pick this one up. Fans of the Avengers will want to pick this one up as well because it pits the Avengers as underdogs in a fight they can’t win….this issue makes it really hard to root for the X-Men
#AVENGERSASSEMBLE
5 out of 5 stars
You can follow Ruben on Twitter at @Ruben_Mendoza
Posted on July 23rd, 2012
Category: REVIEWS, THE BURRITO BANDITO
Tags: avengers vs x-men, AVX, brian michael bendis, Burrito Bandito, Comic Reviews, marvel comics, Mike Deodato JR, New Avengers #28 Review, New Avengers Vol. 2 #28 Review, Ruben Mendoza, X-Men
Avengers Vs X-Men #2 cover
The official second issue of the Marvel’s comics event of 2012 is here and boy, is it a big one!
Avengers vs X-Men is huge in everything from the amount of action in it’s pages to the creative team behind the project. The list of personnel is truly astonishing, including greats such as Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, New Avengers), Ed Brubaker (Winter Soldier, Captain America), John Romita Jr (Kick-Ass, Uncanny X-Men) and Jonathan Hickman (Fantastic Four, The Manhattan Projects). However, even with good creative teams, these big events have developed a trend of failing to meet expectations.
Brian Bendis’ issue #1 was fairly slow, deliberately building up the tension and motivations for Marvel’s biggest super-teams to fight each other. Now, with Jason Aaron (Wolverine and the X-Men, The Incredible Hulk) taking over for issue #2, the pace rapidly increases with many of the promised hero vs hero fights. For the most part, this is very much an action-heavy ‘popcorn flick’ type of comic book. All hell, officially, breaks loose.
All Hell officially breaks loose!
Aaron’s writing is fairly non-distinct, his dialogue often feels obvious and heavy handed with no particular stand out lines from any of the characters. The captions accompanying the action panels add an extra layer, regularly hearkening back to classic Stan Lee style of melodramatic descriptions of superheroes. Much like Civil War (I’m sure many comparisons have been and will be drawn between these two events), the writers seem to have an idea as to which side the reader is supposed to be rooting for. This is most evident in Wolverine who, as a member of both the X-Men and Avengers, has to make a difficult decision on which side to take. He is very much the moral centre of the conflict and his speech bubbles are often like reading your own thoughts as you progress through the book.
The art is as simple and straight forward as the script and John Romita Jr’s work is decent for the most part. However, like many artists, he does seem to lose considerable amounts of detail when dealing with a lot of characters in one panel. With so many members on each team, this becomes more of a problem than usual. His best work is clearly shown in the blows thrown between the heroes, each punch and blast containing a real sense of impact. Unfortunately, the main problem with AvX #2 is that both the storytelling and art feel extremely rushed. This is almost certainly due to the sheer amount of characters and the much-hyped match ups themselves rarely last longer than a single panel at a time. Wolverine alone takes part in a few seemingly completely separate fights in the matter of a few pages and almost every single one of them is a single panel. This makes the issue feel very sporadic, constantly building the reader’s hopes up for intriguing conflicts and then dashing it straight away afterwards. The centrepiece of Cyclops vs Captain America is nice and could really be an interesting read if the writers choose to focus on it.
The final page is the least action packed and actually builds more interest than all the previous 24 pages by showing the missing Avengers preparing to face the Phoenix Force in deep space. I’m certainly interested to how a team of Thor, Beast, Captain Britain, War Machine, Valkyrie, The Vision and Protector will try to stop the Phoenix and it’ll be enough to bring me back in two weeks for issue #3.
Overall, Avengers vs X-Men #2 is a decent book. It has considerable flaws, the rushed fights really are far too shallow, but as it’s only the second issue of a 12 part series, this can be excused to a certain extent. If you’re looking for a fairly bright and brainless superhero book this week, to contrast to the levels of grittiness you’ll see in so many titles today, you’ll probably enjoy this issue.
I think I speak for many readers when I say that I hope this event is able to excel past the first two ‘OK’ issues and build to something that doesn’t fall in to the often too predictable formula of so many major comic book events.
Rating: 6.0/10
You can follow Jack on his website www.jlwchambers.com or on twitter at @jlwchambers
Posted on April 21st, 2012
Category: Blog, REVIEWS
Tags: avengers vs x-men, AVX, brian michael bendis, jason aaron, John Romita Jr., marvel comics
.jpg?150,233,0,,80,1088094271)
