Seraph's Comic Book City
Reviews & news on Comic books and comic book related media from the walking encyclopedia known as Seraph. Comic Book Clash are my reviews while Comic Book Quick Hits are the news segment.
Seraph
I am just me . . . look it up on my FB page under my full name, I am a hardcore fan of anime, comic books & tokusatsu for nearly 20 years. Also a writer for Examiner.com, I am currently working on several indy comics as I climb towards my dreams of one day writing comic books as my career. A fan of a lot of stuff, recently became addicted to Dr. Who, favorite sci fi show is Farscape and a wrestling fan since for 25 years. I am pretty open guy, willing to listen and learn from people, no matter the age and I don't judge people. So if anyone needs anything, feel free.
Blog entries categorized under Comics/Books
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It what may be one of the busiest and news worth weeks in recent memory, this is gonna be a snippet of everything that has been going down. There is A LOT going on right now. So I am just going to give small breakdowns this week cause . . .yeah . . . CRAZINESS.
DC
1 -You know, because of how earth shatter what I am about to say, there will be a whole new special on this later this month or the beginning of July, when the FULL SCOOP is out and about. But here it is.
DC COMICS, in their infinite wisdom . . . decides they are gonna reboot . . . AGAIN. Yes. And this time, they MAY OR MAY NOT sweep under continuity they have had over the last 2 to 3 decades. The heroes, according to the original press release by many of the big wigs over at DC including Dan Didio & Bob Wayne as they give us this:
As of August, Almost EVERY COMIC in DC's line is going to end and we are gonna have 52 #1 issues come September, with one exception. There will be a new Justice League #1, written by Geoff Johns with art by Jim Lee, coming out the same day as Flashpoint # 5, which I had original stated that it will be the only comic that will be released on August 31. Now it is those two as Flashpoint #5 will now not only end the summer event but also this recent era of DC and Justice League # 1 (and no, there is no of America after the name) will hit stores.
Justice League # 1 will also be the very first DC Comic to have a release on both print and digital on the same day. On top of that, there will be a special bagged edition of Justice League # 1 which will be a print & digital edition; which will have a code that you will get Justice League #1 digital version on line.
This is to add that Bob Wayne quote this about what this will happen in the relaunch:
1 - Marvel's Fear Itself is in full swing and the world is slowly but surely getting more and more afraid as the Asgardian God of Fear, also known as the Serpent is looking to take a bite out of the world alongside the 8 Worthy in a reign of terror the world has never seen. Now . . . if you think that the event hasn't lived up to the hype, I will offer this:
Sin leads the most audacious attack on American soil the world has ever seen as global panic sets in and we fall sway to the power of fear itself. On Asgard, Loki hatches the scheme to end all schemes. And everywhere, the Serpent's presence is felt...never moreso than when a major Marvel hero falls at his hands. The shock ending to end all shock endings...as the cycle of evil stretching millennia is at last completed.
With all the hype around Fear Itself, it looks as if Fraction and Immonen deliver. This not only reveals the other 2 Worthy, but not necessarily how they became the worthy . . . well one of them at least but also manages to show the DEATH OF A MAJOR MARVEL HERO. Yet this is one of those crossovers that you DO have to pick up the tie ins in order to get the full effect and story around Fear Itself. Fear Itself # 3 is written by Matt Fraction and art by Stuart Immonen for $3.99 and is in stores now.
INDEPENDENTS
1 - Valiant Comics back in the day was going toe to toe with Marvel, DC and directly at odds with Image Comics for the number 3 spot back in the 90s. And now . . . finally, the company is going to have a resurrection. After Acclaim went defunct, Cueno & Co, LLC. gave Valiant management the finacial backing they need in order to resurrect. And resurrect they shall with a bunch of new titles coming out in 2012.
There have been no formal details of which titles and who will work on them with only mentions that Bloodshot, Ninjak, Harbinger & X-O Manowar will be among those titles that will return come 2012.
Valiant, now Valiant Entertainment has already shifted gears as a Bloodshot promotional poster has been made by former Immortal Iron Fist artist Danny Aja!
We will look more into Valiant's return once we get a full scope of their launch titles.
You know what? After those 3 big stories this week, I am done. We will see you Next week.
Justice League # 1 will also be the very first DC Comic to have a release on both print and digital on the same day. On top of that, there will be a special bagged edition of Justice League # 1 which will be a print & digital edition; which will have a code that you will get Justice League #1 digital version on line.
This is to add that Bob Wayne quote this about what this will happen in the relaunch:
"The new No. 1 issues will introduce readers to a more modern, diverse DC Universe, with some character variations in appearance, origin and age. All stories will be grounded in each character's legend -- but will relate to real world situations, interactions, tragedy and triumph.
"Some of the characters will have new origins, while others will undergo minor changes. Our characters are always being updated; however, this is the first time all of our characters will be presented in a new way all at once."
And yet we later get another DC big wig later commenting that THIS IS NOT A REBOOT. Oh Wait. It's FROM BOB WAYNE . . .AGAIN:
We know that you want more details on the creative teams and their title-by-title assignments for the launch. . (And by the way, let me just reiterate this point: this is the launch of the New DCU. It is not a “reboot.” I think you will soon discover why that is.) We will send you an e-mail with more creative details next week, as a teaser in advance of the solicitation copy for Previews going live on the 13th. Once solicit copy is released, we will be sending you a short introductory video, starring our creators and our content. We will also be taking this act on the road, for a series of retailer meetings in markets including New York, Dallas/Fort Worth, Baltimore, Chicago, and Los Angeles, during the days leading up to the release of the physical Previews catalog. Stay tuned for more details, and send us a note to make sure you’re on the invite list.
That letter was to retailers. So . . . which is it Wayne . . . .Reboot or not? Are you ignoring and changing history or not?
Am I excited at some of the incoming teams who will work on these books? Yes. Am I happy that some of my favorite characters didn't make the cut or will get changed to the point that they aren't who they used to be? YES!
Either or, this is something that I will definitely keep an eye on. And with Previews coming out with their September solicitions by June 13th, we'll know who is on what book before than and I will make a WHOLE NEW DC RELAUNCH SPECIAL for that week.
Honestly , I have so many different emotions about this that I am kinda torn. Definitely more on this next week.
MARVEL
1 - Marvel's Fear Itself is in full swing and the world is slowly but surely getting more and more afraid as the Asgardian God of Fear, also known as the Serpent is looking to take a bite out of the world alongside the 8 Worthy in a reign of terror the world has never seen. Now . . . if you think that the event hasn't lived up to the hype, I will offer this:
Sin leads the most audacious attack on American soil the world has ever seen as global panic sets in and we fall sway to the power of fear itself. On Asgard, Loki hatches the scheme to end all schemes. And everywhere, the Serpent's presence is felt...never moreso than when a major Marvel hero falls at his hands. The shock ending to end all shock endings...as the cycle of evil stretching millennia is at last completed.
With all the hype around Fear Itself, it looks as if Fraction and Immonen deliver. This not only reveals the other 2 Worthy, but not necessarily how they became the worthy . . . well one of them at least but also manages to show the DEATH OF A MAJOR MARVEL HERO. Yet this is one of those crossovers that you DO have to pick up the tie ins in order to get the full effect and story around Fear Itself. Fear Itself # 3 is written by Matt Fraction and art by Stuart Immonen for $3.99 and is in stores now.
INDEPENDENTS
1 - Valiant Comics back in the day was going toe to toe with Marvel, DC and directly at odds with Image Comics for the number 3 spot back in the 90s. And now . . . finally, the company is going to have a resurrection. After Acclaim went defunct, Cueno & Co, LLC. gave Valiant management the finacial backing they need in order to resurrect. And resurrect they shall with a bunch of new titles coming out in 2012.
There have been no formal details of which titles and who will work on them with only mentions that Bloodshot, Ninjak, Harbinger & X-O Manowar will be among those titles that will return come 2012.
Valiant, now Valiant Entertainment has already shifted gears as a Bloodshot promotional poster has been made by former Immortal Iron Fist artist Danny Aja!
We will look more into Valiant's return once we get a full scope of their launch titles.
You know what? After those 3 big stories this week, I am done. We will see you Next week.
Welcome to another edition of Comic Book Clash: where heroes & villains clash for supremacy. Which gets to TEAM BOOK MONTH. Last week, we started our current war between the Dynamo 5 vs. The Fantastic Four. Well, it is time. Time to tell, the final storyline with Marvel’s First Family with the original team. Ladies and Gentleman, COMIC BOOK CLASH gives you our review of “THREE”
TALE OF THE TAPE
Honestly, I really don’t see how or why I have to do it for THIS TEAM. But for those of you who are not too familiar with the Fantastic Four’s original, I will sum it up. Reed Richards with his best friend, Ben Grimm; piloted an experimental rocket ship alongside Susan Storm and her little brother, Johnny Storm. They take the rocket through some cosmic rays and crash back on Earth. When they get out, Reed is all stretchy. Johnny is able to light himself on fire and even fly. Sue is able to go invisible and Ben . .. transforms into orange bricks.
Thus the Fantastic Four was born. And much have they done in their team together. They have crossed dimensions, planets and time itself. They have fought off Reed’s rival and old college buddy, Victor Von Doom, now Dr. Doom; time and time again cause . . . well Dr. Doom has a hard time not being right all the time and feels that he’s the smartest of all. They have fought all sorts of threats . . . from subterran monarchs, to planet eating demi gods. The Fantastic Four has run the gambit. But not just as a team but as a family. And while their membership has shifted over the years, the Fantastic Four, at its core have always been Reed, Sue, Johnny & Ben. Now, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and The Thing have been working with the next generation as they take care of not only Reed and Sue’s children, Franklin and Valeria Richards; but also some mole men children, Dragon Man and a child cloned from FF enemy, The Wizard. Alex Power, former member of the Power Pack & New Warriors , has been acting as babysitter and close friend to Franklin
CLASH FACTS
THREE opens when a shot of the Fantastic Four in the Negative Zone, fending off a small invasion group. Then cuts right back to the
Then we get a shot of Doom in Latveria, his country that he rules with an iron fist. And we find that he is not is usual meglomanical self. No. Come to find out, Doom is preparing to leave his throne. He mentions Kristoff Vernard, who is actually Doom’s adopted son that he exiled only to find Val teleporting into his throne room. Doom asks why she showed up when Val tells him of the machine that Reed built with a nonchalant manner that Dr. Doom is a family member. She even calls him Uncle Doom. WHAT?! Come to find out, Valeria Richards had a little adventure through the Bridge, meeting the alternate Reeds in the council and finding that Reed made a WRONG choice. Supposedly, Val thinks that her dad made the wrong choice in sticking with his family and personal happiness over the good of the world. So Val says that she notices that Doom isn’t quite himself; revealing she figured out that Doom has Brain Damage. Val poses that if Doom helps her dad, she will find a way to restore Doom to the way he was. Doom agrees.
The Fantastic Four returns victorious while The Thing has an enlarged cranium due to the radition given off from this one area of the Negative Zone. They stop the invasion and the fight over this one city in the Negative Zone and return; where all the children, including Val are waiting. Johnny makes fun of the Things head for a bit as Val smiles saying that nothing has happened. The first part of THREE ends with Silver Surfer hovering over something and saying “Unacceptable.” The final panel shows us the corpse of Galactus. Wait . . .WHAT?! Hold on! WHAT?! Galactus is dead?!
The next issue with Thing’s head finally going back to normal self . . . for The Thing. Ben joins Johnny, Dragon Man, Alex and the mole boys for breakfast asking where Reed, Sue and the kids are. They are on the roof; sending off Sue who took on a diplomatic mission. Reed asks if she wants help and Sue says she’ll handle it. Back at breakfast, the mole men and the clone of the Wizard, named Bentley, cooked up a potion that will make Ben human again for a week; stating that it will only work one week a year. Just want to point out that the kids are all part of what Reed started called The Future Foundation. Hmm . . . wonder why I think that name is important for later? Ben takes the potion and after Johnny makes him worried that it made the Thing look worse; a mirror confirms that Ben has turned back into a human. After Ben is ready to beat Johnny up, Johnny points out that this is a great time to have some fun. After which, we see Johnny and Ben through a montage of different things going on; a baseball game, a card game only to come to the park and get into a fist fight: with the new Yancy Street Gang. Why do I say new? Cause they are all in suits and are former investment bankers. Wow. Economy has really hit us hard.
Sue enters Utopia, greeted by Cyclops and Emma Frost. After a warm greeting from Cyclops and a chilling one from Emma, Namor comes to welcomes her; stating why he doesn’t wait for many, he’ll wait forever for her. Wow Namor. Still wanting Susan after . . . dear god, its been 50 years. Namor tells he looks forward to work with her to forge a new union between New Atlantis, which he rules and old Atlantis, ancient undersea races that recently reemerged.
While Ben went to see Alicia, Reed was investigating a bleed in space when he gets visited by Silver Surfer, who says he knows that the Fantastic Four was with the Galactus corpse. And Silver Surfer is NOT happy. Yet as Reed is about to explain what happened, Silver Surfer that HE wants answers . . . pointing upward. Then we see Galactus teleport in, alive. Wait WHAT? Galactus is Dead? Now he’s not? WHAT?!
Ben and Johnny drive home to see Galactus teleport in. Johnny flames on while he leaves Ben with the car. Galactus asks for the explanation behind the doppelganger that is buried on Earth. Reed explained that the corpse is from an alternate future where Galactus was killed. The corpse ended up on this universe after that one was destroyed. Out of respect, Reed buried the corpse. The people responsible for killing him were brought into this universe and are on an artificial Earth. Galactus decides that he needs more answers, so he, Silver Surfer and Reed go to this artifical Earth. Johnny arrives in time to be told that he and Ben will have to look after the kids.
Sue is arguing back and forth with Andromeda as she comes up with ideas and compromises so that all Atlantaeans, old and new, can live peacefully in the sea. Andromeda protest but is silenced by Namor. Namor has Andromeda leave, stating that she thinks Sue is steering him to a bad choice. Sue explains she is working on doing right for everyone.
Back with Galactus and Reed, Galactus explains that he knows that Franklin
Sue meets with representatives of Old Atlantis and Namor as they work out a treaty. Andromeda issues a small amount of area in the sea for all the Old Atlantaeans while Namor’s kingdom emcompasses the rest of the ocean. The Old Atantaean King states how unfair their issue is when Namor gets out of his chair. He then throws a trident to the king’s main guard then proceeds to kill the king in the gut; stating that Atlantis will be ruled by one king and one king only . . . him! Then we get Namor, Andromeda and his soldiers surrounded in the hall but then his own army attacks the site of the conference. Sue figured that his was Namor’s plan the whole time. Sue creates a force field to hold off Namor’s army, causing a stand off.
Reed and Galactus are joined by Alyssa, who is now sporting a new robotic body in which her consciousness is housed, and Ted. They travel to the artificial Earth, called Nu-World. When they get there, Reed explains how Galactus’s future self died then established Nu-World. Galactus’s hunger takes over him and he decides that he will eat the planet and its inhabitants. Reed says he needs to save who he can and come up with some kind of resolution. Sue holds the force field with some strain as blood trickles down her nose. Namor tries to convince her that his course is best and that the Old Atlantaeans will sacrifice her as per their old customs of the past.
Reed, Ted and Alyssa travel to the center of Nu-World to find the inhabitants’ minds all within the mind of Natalie X. They run into Lightwave and Natalie X. Not really sure who they are but they chat as Lightwave reveal that he’s not hear to eat Nu-World . . . but to destroy it. They end up moving Natalie X, Lightwave and themselves through a portal as Galactus destroys Nu-World.
Sue ends up talking to the Old Atlantaeans alone, finding that they have admitted that they had a barbaric past but want to build something new and are peaceful. And since their king was killed and his heir is far too young, they name Sue their new Queen. Sue excepts and goes to Namor, asking one last time that they will end their fighting. Namor tells her he will not stop and that she will heed him. Sue states that he will honor their deal and that no war will happen, for the Old Atlantaeans are under her protection. Namor grabs her as she turns away. Sue then beats Namor to the ground.
Sue: Honor the deal, Namor. I’m done asking nicely.
Namor: YOU DARE!
Sue: YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT I DO. IN case you missed it, these are my people now. I RULE HERE. And I am a Queen that bows to NO king.
Namor stares at her for a moment then merely says: God, You are Magnificent.
Sue rolls her eyes and declares their new treaty stands.
Finally, we get to Johnny and Ben’s part in the storyline. As they go back to look after the kids in the Baxter Building, Bug people teleport in to get at the portal it has to the Negative Zone. Johnny, Ben, Alex, Franklin, Valeria and the rest of the Future Foundation fend off the bug soldiers, defeating them long enough to realize that they did open the portal to go through to prepare Annihilus’s Second Annihilation Wave. Val points out that the only way to shut down the portal so that they do not come through from the Negative zone to Earth for good is to take care of the systems in the other side of the portal because the bug boys were about to lock the portal open from their side. While they are over run, Val takes a pipe and knocks out fellow Future Foundation member, Leech. With Leech down, Franklin
The Future Foundation fight alongside Ben, who is still human at this point, and Johnny in the Negative Zone, against the better judgements of Ben and Johnny; yet Val points out that she, Bentley and some of the others can help them and that the Avengers would Never get there in time.As they battle the armies of Annihilus, Bentley notices that the Annhilation Wave was coming. Val confirms that the controls are locked, as per Reed’s specs. They try to come up with ways of being able to close the portal after they go back; but it comes down to a horrifying truth . . . someone has to manually put up shields to keep out the Annhilation Wave and close the portal from the Negative Zone. Someone is gonna have to stay behind.
Ben, hold a gun, tells Johnny to take the kids and that he’ll do it. He thanked Johnny for the best week he’s had in a long time and that he doesn’t want to be owing him. Johnny turns to the Future Foundation, begging that is there another way. With a minute before the Annhilation Wave hits, Val sadly answers No.
Johnny: Okay. That settles it then.
Johnny then kicks Ben hard in his stomach and throws him through the portal after the Future Foundation has all crossed over the portal. Johnny puts up the shield.
Ben bangs at the shield: You Stupid, Dumb . . . Open this back up! Open it!
Val: We can’t. There’s no time left! If he’s going to activate the shield it has to be now.
Ben: No. That’s Not . . . That’s . .. Val. Just tell him how to work the Thing.
Val tells her uncle how to operate the console and states that her father would have built a back door. She murmurs to her uncle that they’ll be back. Johnny engages the locks. Ben begins to slam his fists against the shield, screaming No over and over again as the Annihilation Wave begins to strife their position. Johnny watches. ..
Johnny: Unbelievable.
Ben stops hitting the shield as Johnny reaches out his hand.
Johnny: You don’t wish it any more than I do.
Ben puts his hand up with Johnny’s for a moment. Johnny breaks off to turn around.
Johnny: So this is it.
Blasts at either side of him as the Annihilation wave comes into view.
Johnny: A billion to one. You think I’m a afraid of that? YOU THINK I’M AFRAID OF THAT? FLAME ON!
Johnny is now surrounded by Annihilus’s forces. Ben watches as the portal begins to close. Annihilus himself coming ever closer.
Ben: Oh God. John . . .
A splash page shows Johnny Storm . . . engulfed by hordes and hordes of Annihilus’s soldiers, barely able to be seen by the swarm.
Finally Ben bows his head as Franklin and Valeria Richard are held at either side of The Thing in utter silence as the final page was in black with 3 in the classic blue and white Fantastic Four symbol with only these words, ending the issue and the storyline:
The Last Stand of Johnny Storm.
CLASH TACTICS
Ok. When I first picked out this bout and this storyline to review, I was a bit unsure of how to go about it. But both this and Dynamo 5 had to deal with major issues and changes that come about because of them. Both families had to deal with changes with their youngest team member.
Now with the Fantastic Four, I will say this. When Reed “supposedly” died, there was no real sense of finality in his death. Even with the two years without Reed and the additions of Ant Man and Namor, the Fantastic Four seemed to get this sense that they will always come back together. This . . . this on the other hand had finality to it. The lead up was still somewhat surprising, even with all the press that a member of the Fantastic Four was going to die. If you had no clue that someone was going to die, you would definitely would have been surprised. Even with that, kudos to Jonathan Hickman for producing one of the best Marvel death’s since Jean Grey died . . . back in New X-Men #150. Johnny’s death was very well done. It brought me back to that moment with Jean in New X-Men. It brought me back to watching Angel’s first season and watching Doyle die. A character that we care about and got somewhat attached to dying like a hero. Johnny got that in spades. Just as a death of a major Marvel character, his death seemed to have more resonance than Captain America Steve Rogers did. Sure. He was assassinated after a major storyline just after it ended. Steve Rogers was about to go to jail. Johnny died sacrificing himself to save the world and humanity from being decimated by Annihilus and his Annihilation Wave. I am praying that Marvel keeps him dead. Seriously, it would cheapen his sacrifice if he was resurrected. I know it will come down to what fans want in the end but still, I doubt anything could top the way Johnny Storm died during this storyline.
As for THREE itself, Hickman gave readers a plethora of Fantastic Four stables and weaved several stories that ran together and built what the team and family will become. At first, I figure that Hickman doing this would have made things very convoluted and hard to read. As I read the storyline, I felt how important each story was in their own way and represented so much of what the Fantastic Four was. In many ways, Three was a final love letter from Jonathan Hickman. This was the last hurrah.
Hickman gave each character a very distinct and interesting voice. From Reed to Johnny to every member of the Future Foundation, Hickman crafted characters that resonated with readers. Every character was identifiable and had a depth thanks to Hickman’s characterization. He had no problem running the Fantastic Four gambit. And honestly, it was done very, very well. Not a single one of the characters felt they were out of character. He added to them a lot during the storyline. For all the immature infighting between Ben and Johnny, they both produced an air of maturity that showed that while they are who they are . . .they have evolved as people. Reed produced himself in a fashion that was still the famous scientist he always was but a man of honor and family. The most gripping characterizations were Sue and Valeria Richards. The two females of the Richards Clan were strong, brave and honestly took little bull from anyone. Sue went toe to toe with Namor, ready to do what she had to in order to win. Val did what she felt she had to in order to secure the future. Val may have her father’s intellect but she definitely has her mother’s spirit. Hickman really showed up the world of the Fantastic Four for the last time through the eyes of this family that seeming was evolving.
Steve Epting has been a good artist in the past. But his pencils for the storyline were dark and rich. Full of life and danger while still giving everyone a regal look and feel. Doom felt menacing but matched his lessened status thanks to his brain damage in subtle ways. Epting really put his heart into this storyline and it shows with near-flawless work for the entire 5 parter. Everyone had a distinct look. Emotion was carried over extremely well through just the art of Epting alone. First example is when Johnny was teasing Ben after he had taken the portion and turned back into a human. Nothing had to be explained. All of it, without reading the words, told a story and gave us the emotion of the characters.
Epting continued this by truly capturing all kinds of aspects of the characters in THREE: Sue’s strength. Reed’s worry. Johnny’s determination. Ben’s utter sorrow. The last 7 pages of art in Fantastic Four #587 are some of the most hauntingly beautiful and sad in comic book history. The last 3 panels by Epting are burned into my memory for life. That is how powerful this story was drawn. Epting’s tour de force was beautifully done for this storyline. Kudos to inks by Rick Magyar, Mike Perkins and Epting himself throughout the storyline to really flesh out the characters and give us a visually appealing story without having to be told anything. And Paul Mounts did a spectacular job in coloring the story, letting the inks held the shadows and colorfully gave us the emotions and looks of the characters and places they were in. Nothing looked out of place and every place seemed wondrously real.
The press for Three was huge and I will say that Hickman and Epting deliever. There may be a lot for new readers to kinda shake their head about but Hickman is great about just giving us what we need while still treating readers with respect. Epting’s art really gave us a beautiful depiction of the final days of the Fantastic Four. And that is what this is. The final Fantastic Four adventure. At least for the time being. No one knows what the future holds but Hickman’s storyline gave respect to all that came before him while establishing the evolution.
And with Johnny’s final, brave farewell, I give Fantastic Four’s Three a World Heavyweight title Contenders spot. I tried hard to find something bad about this story but honestly, there was nothing really bad about it.
This makes Fantastic Four the winners of their bout with Dynamo 5. Unless you have a different opinion. Feel free to vote on who you think will win and the winner will advance to the tournament this summer.
Thank is all for this week. Til next time!
Welcome back to another thrilling, blood soaked edition of Comic Book Clash. This time, we are setting up matches between two groups of assassins who are out . . . well, to kill people. Yet, both of these groups are very different, with different motivations and different targets. Ladies and Gentlemen, it's Marvel's Uncanny X-Force vs. DC's Secret Six.
VS.
UNCANNY X-FORCE
Issues # 1- 4
Story (arc) Name: The Apocalypse Solution
Written by Rick Remender with art by Jerome Opena with colors by Dean White.
TALE OF THE TAPE
X-Force originally started way back in the 90s under the control of the Rob Liefield when he transformed the New Mutants into X-Force, introducing many of the characters that are popular today such as Domino, Cable and Deadpool. The group that formed X-Force were Cable, Domino, Shatterstar (remember him on my X-Factor review), Warpath, Feral, Siryn, Boom Boom and Cannonball. Through its adventures, the group shuffled its ranks, including Rictor, Sunspot, the real Domino(another story for another time) and Dani Moonstar. As members came and gone, X-Force had changed so much that it had become an entirely new team . . . who later became the X-Statix. Later, X-Force had reformed with Cable in a small mini series then not seen again for years.
Fast forward to a few years ago during the X-Men crossover even known as Messiah Complex. The crossover not only raped the character of Bishop from time lost hero to ruthless traitor and brought us the new Mutant Messiah in the form of Hope Summers; it reformed X-Force. But this X-Force was entirely different. Brought together by Cyclops and led by Wolverine, this new X-Force was made up of the best mutant trackers and killers: X-23, Wolfsbane, Hepzabah (from the Starjammers) and X-Force alumni Caliban and Warpath.The team was able to fight off the Purifiers, a religious mutant hating organization and find Cable and Hope. Unfortnately, Caliban died during the crossover.
At the end of the crossover, X-Force had returned with a whole new series and mission: to take out the enemies of mutantkind since there were so few of them left since the whole Scarlet Witch -House of M thing years ago. And what do you know, it was a bunch of villains that were dead or missing that had come back, thanks to a technorganic virus. X-Force had come back, but with out Hepzabah. Angel had his wings ripped and bitten off by a brainwashed Wolfsbane only to find that Archangel can emerge as a separate identity. Yes, after all these years of Warren healing, his wings are ripped off again but now they grew back and Angel can now go between being Angel and Archangel. Domino, Elixer and Vanisher all join X-Force for a while. After a few crossovers and storylines, X-Force had taken out most of the people on Cyclops's list and were found out, as Cyclops kept X-Force a secret from almost everyone. Cyclops disbands X-Force after Steve Rogers came back and took over Nick Fury's old spot from the then in charge and insane Norman Osborn. Crazy huh?
So Cable and Nightcrawler died right before X-Force was disbanded. A little time has passed. And now, Wolverine has decided that they need X-Force. Just not the X-Force that was there before. And Archangel agrees with him. So, we get a new X-Force in the form of Wolverine, Archangel, Fantomex, Psylocke & Deadpool. Yes . . . the Merc with a Mouth is an offical member of an X-team. WOW. And let's see how the first storyline handles as we look at the beginning of the series . . . Uncanny X-Force!
CLASH FACTS
Our first issue of the new series opens with our favorite Merc with a Mouth inside what seems to be a temple. He passes a statue that suddenly starts having glowing eyes. Deadpool stops at a ledge and looks over some kind of ritual. A bunch of people are stand around an Egyptian style coffin with wires and all sorts of weird tech around it. We see one of those people hacked up and smoke around them. Deadpool seemingly does contact. Yet in middle of communications, said statue from earlier is coming down at him with some kind of BIG AXE.
We cut to Psylocke walking down a corridor that had dead bodies on the ground. Seemingly a tunnel in a sewer from the looks of it. She passes a doorway to find Angel . . . and Archangel . . . in separate bodies, talking to each other. Archangel is stating that he will fix Angel and that he will fix Psylocke too. She wakes up with a gasp, sleeping next to Angel. Angel asks what happened while Psylocke tries to ignore it. Psylocke says that Angel's mind is split with the personas and that just removing Archangel could fracture Warren's mind permanently. They go on about their relationship and X-Force then about how Angel feels that he knows he can trust Betsy to stop him from going too far. Angel feels bad to be so dependent on Betsy but Besty reassures him that she trust her feelings for him. And before they could get into their relationship more, Angel gets beeped and Angel gets worried. He tries to hid if from Psylocke and she just shrugs it off and says to get ready for work.
Fantomex is in London and breaks into the vault of the Queen's Crown Jewels. He misdirects guards with his powers only to find . . . Wolverine. The two talk for a moment as Wolverine mentions a mission and that Fantomex lost a bet. Then we move over sometime later to E.V.A. (no, not the Evangelions), but the living ship that looks like a marble with rings around it. Wolverine, Psylocke, Archangel and Fantomex are chatting about the upcoming mission and their missing member while Fantomex gives us narrative. Fantomex flirts with Betsy openly who proclaims she's involved yet he does not care; his narrative revealing that he considers Archangel schizophrenic. Wolverine and Archangel discuss how close Warren is to everything and how they are co-captains of the team in order to have checks and balances.
They reach their destination, going into the chambers that Deadpool was in as Fantomex muses how this group are NOT the X-Men. They are about to spread out to search as Wolverine picks up Deadpool's stench near the Statue as it stands there plainly.Yet, Wolverine does not fall for the ruse, attacking it right away. As they fight, Wolverine gets cut and then is possessed by the statue. Archangel orders Psylocke and Fantomex deal with the Statue while he will fight Wolverine. Psylocke flips onto the Statues head and gives him some Psychic Knife. She becomes possesed while linked to the Statue and talks about War and how War is Life. Fantomex tackles her off, smelling her and getting aroused while she is recovering from the link. The Statue comes at him but uses his powers of misdirection to state that Psylocke is the woman of his dreams . . . and the Statue explodes. Archangel is downed by Wolverine, who threatens to kill him while Wolverine is talking gibberish. Another psychic knife releases Wolverine from the spell and they continue.
Deadpool, with his mask riped open on the top are being examined by two scientist till they are killed. The team breaks Deadpool loose as EVA reports to Fantomex that they are in a space ship and it is about to blow. The group hopes on EVA and retreats.
Archangel informs Wolverine that he's had Deadpool tracking down Apocalypse for some time now and that the Statue was actually a member of the Last Horsemen of Apocalypse. Apocalypse has been reborn and they were going to kill him. Yet, the final page of the first issue reveals Apocalypse new host . . . a little boy.
The next issue of X-Force opens with a training exercise in a special Danger Room Warren had set up for X-Force. During the exercise, Betsy narrates as they face off against Apocalypse and she is forced to kill Archangel . . . just as Angel walks into the exercise. In her mind, she prepares herself yet also feels pain over the exercise of killing the man she loves. Warren asks why are she training to kill him when Wolverine takes responsibility and that the exercise is to make Betsy comfortable with it should it come down to it.Warren walks away depressed. Meanwhile, the new host of Apocalypse is getting privately tutored on who he is and what he is to do with Ozamydias watching. Back in X-Force's new base, Cavern X, Wolverine and Warren go over why they are there and what is new. Meanwhile, Deadpool and Fantomex trade pleasantries as they find they are in X-Force for the money. We find out that Apocalypse and his ship are now on the Moon. Warren goes over to get Betsy for the mission when they have a talk and she reveals that ever since Nightcrawler died, she hasn't felt alive . . .human. She answers that Warren makes her feel human and that she is with him til the end.
They head out into space with spacesuits inside EVA as they get ready. They are heading to the Blue Area of the moon when War jumps up at them on the moon and slices through EVA. Fantomex orders EVA to seal the breach but EVA is infected like Wolverine was. The team goes outside after EVA crashes down on the moon's surface. Wolverine orders Deadpool to hold off War when a man in a uniform and a drum stands above them on a small hit. Archangel goes after him and crashes. When we see Archangel again, it looks as if he decided to look like Christian Bale did at the end of the Machinist. War kicks away Deadpool and he lands some distance away at the feet of another new Horsemen, who is a geisha. She opens her mouth and a swarm of bees leave her maw to attack Deadpool. Wolverine and Fantomex deal with War when the final Horseman is a guy flying in on a magic carpet. He seems the two men with Psylocke and instantly gives them several different disease all at the same time. The Final Horsemen regroup with them standing over the three members of X-Force.
Issue # 3 opens with small one page flash backs on each of the Final Horsemen. Each of these Horsemen are from a different period of time; War from Ancient Rome, Famine, aka the guy with Drums is from Civil War era Gettysburg. The geisha, Pestilence, is from 19th Century Japan while Death, or magic carpet man, is from Persia during the 2nd Century. We go back to the present where the Final Horsemen are standing over Psylocke, Wolverine and Fantomex, awaiting word from Ozymandias to give the order to either capture or kill them.Ozymandias asks the child Apocalypse host what he wishes, offering that they should kill them. The boy says he does not want to kill anyone. He then asks ship, who uses the old teacher as a guise to prepare to lift off. Ozymandias contacts the Final Horsemen, ordering the death of X-Force. Death takes a minute to gloat over how powerful he is and how vain it is to struggle only to get a hard claw from Wolverine. Meanwhile, Psylocke communicates with Fantomex telepathically, shutting down their ears so Famine's drums would have no effect. Before Psylocke can communicate much else, War taps her head, knocking her out; causing Fantomex to call out. Death and Wolverine continue to fight Before anything else happens, War drags away Psylocke and Fantomex uses his powers on Pestilence.
Deadpool is crawling back and finds Archangel, all skeletonally thin. Deadpool jokes while he gives Warren a soda.War is about to enter the ship with Psylocke. Death continues to kick around Wolverine with his powers till after a while it is revealed that he was now using his powers on Pestilence. The Horsemen enter Ship, with Fantomex carrying Wolverine in. Psylocke wakes up in War's room where he states that he is in love with her. Psylocke curses Fantomex in her head then flirts with War. War welcomes her only to get a psychic blade for his trouble. As Fantomex and Wolverine work their way around ship, Deadpool set up a tent with Warren. Back on ship, the host of Apocalypse is playing with toys; the ship announcing that it will teleport in seconds as Psylocke walks into his room with her katana drawn.
Wolverine and Fantomex crawl out of being buried. Then Wolverine orders Fantomex to use his powers of misdirection on the ship before it teleports away. It works, making the Ship think it teleported. Deadpool in the meantime feeds Warren to get his strength as we get . . . OH MY GOD . . .Deadpool is feeling Warren his own skin. NEXT.
Ozymandias is angry when he finds that the Ship thinks it had teleported away, only to find that it just teleported itself to the same location. He orders the guards to get ready for X-Force when Wolverine and Fantomex begin to kill them all. Three of the Final Horsemen come into to deal with them only to get caught up by another illusion by Fantomex. Ozymandias is just angry when he finds that X-Force hasn't been taken down and that Psylocke is in the room with the boy when he is met by Deadpool and Archangel. The four members regroup to find Psylocke . . . now protected the host of Apocalypse. Wolverine and Archangel immediately try to talk her through this as she points out that he is an innocent child. Archangel points out that he's a blood thirsty killer when she points out that he's a child and that they are not heroes if they kill him for something he might do. Archangel believes there is not redemption for the child and ends up fighting his girlfriend. Archangel orders Wolverine to do this when Fantomex and Deadpool watch. Betsy gets the better of Warren when Wolverine says to stop and agrees with Betsy. That they can help the child. Archangel lashes out at them when he goes towards the boy. Yet . . . falls to his knees, unable to kill the child. Psylocke holds Archangel while Wolverine says they can rehabilitate the boy . . . BLAM!!!
A smoking hole on the young boy's head and Fantomex with his guy smoking. The book ends with the group heading back to Earth . . .visibly shaken by what has happened.
CLASH TACTICS
You know, when X-Force got cancelled to be restarted as Uncanny X-Force, I was kinda of disappointed yet intrigued. I can understand why the new number #1 yet at the same time, didn't really see much need for it. Though with how this first storyline ends up setting up EVERYTHING moving forward from the book, I can really see why. This one storyline opens up so much for the cast and plot of the book that it is still going on with aftermath of it even today. It is why I ended up picking this particular storyline to review and NOT the others.
Rick Remender does a great job of crafting one of the most pivotal stories in the X Universe in years. For a four issue story, there was a whole lot seen with our characters, both as individuals and as a group. The story's pacing was excellent, growing faster and faster to the conclusion of the storyarc in issue # 4. There was no real time to relax. Even the training sequence in the beginning of issue # 2 was still keep the pace forwarded and continually moving towards the conclusion.
The development of the team was also greatly established with wonderful character moments between the members of Uncanny X-Force. And while it seemed as if Psylocke and Archangel received the most amount of character development in the storyarc, Wolverine, Fantomex and Deadpool got great character depth as well. And not necessarily just through conversations or narrative Deadpool showed some interesting depths mixed in with his usual comedic moments. Fantomex was interesting as we see his snobby character mix extremely well with the cast members here. His attraction to Psylocke seems to be a plot line that can develop into more down the road. Wolverine is showing his chops as not only a leader but as a character that has evolved and believes in redemption. I honestly don't think that if this was the Wolverine of 10 to 15 years ago, he would have done what he did here. Remender really shows great work of our main cast but seemingly misses a bit with our protagonists. He took the time to develop origins of the Final Horsemen but only War and Pestilence are the only two that seem to have real character development. Also, I am undecided about how the Final Horsemen were tricked and then we didn't see them again.
Artistically, Jerome Opena does a terrific job of give this book the dark, gritty feel that it needed. This isn't the X-Force of old. Heck, it isn't even the X-Force that had been just prior. This is probably the darkest X-Force has ever been, with the team having some very large and interesting issue to face such as . . . well, Killing a child of possible things he could do. Opena's characters have pounds and pounds of emotion alongside of all the blood, metal and bullets. Multiple emotions are nuisance throughout the storyline. Particularly the look on Deadpool's face as he and Fantomex watch Archangel duke it out with Psylocke over the life of the boy. It told so much of Deadpool's character than words have. The sheer horror and amazement that a man is gonna kill a boy over something that he COULD one day do was just expressed in one panel without a single word. That . . . that is a sign of a good artist. The shadows were all blended in when need while other issues shadows were not as dominate . . .as in the cases of when Warren is Angel vs. Archangel. Angel had less shadows so he was a lighter character, matching that persona while Archangel had more shadows to give that persona its more ominous and grim look. While Dean White's colors were very instrumental to always give the right colors to match the tone and pace of the story and the emotions of the characters. When looking at the pictures of Cavern X as Wolverine and Angel were reminiscing of old days, those colors were lively, happy and vibrant. Yet as this story started and continued, things continued to get ever so darker. Kudos to Dean White on his color job.
Uncanny X-Force is a great and solid beginning for what could be one of the better X-books out there. The storyline and characters are interesting and gives moral dilemma a great scope and showing through this very first storyarc. I just wished that the Final Horsemen did not end up such a group of . . . well, pushovers. War was threatening at first and so did all the other Horsemen when they first appeared but they all ended up coming up a bit short as a threat for the story. I think that if we didn't have the origins of the Horsemen and a more balance final battle, this would have been perfect. Instead, the origins feel like filler. Other than that, a great job by Remender, Opena and White.
Comic Book Clash gives Uncanny X-Force: The Apocalypse Solution an Intercontinental Contendership. And we got our first blood bath done for the week . . . coming next . . .Gail Simone's SECRET SIX!!!
See you next week!
VS.
UNCANNY X-FORCE
Issues # 1- 4
Story (arc) Name: The Apocalypse Solution
Written by Rick Remender with art by Jerome Opena with colors by Dean White.
TALE OF THE TAPE
They reach their destination, going into the chambers that Deadpool was in as Fantomex muses how this group are NOT the X-Men. They are about to spread out to search as Wolverine picks up Deadpool's stench near the Statue as it stands there plainly.Yet, Wolverine does not fall for the ruse, attacking it right away. As they fight, Wolverine gets cut and then is possessed by the statue. Archangel orders Psylocke and Fantomex deal with the Statue while he will fight Wolverine. Psylocke flips onto the Statues head and gives him some Psychic Knife. She becomes possesed while linked to the Statue and talks about War and how War is Life. Fantomex tackles her off, smelling her and getting aroused while she is recovering from the link. The Statue comes at him but uses his powers of misdirection to state that Psylocke is the woman of his dreams . . . and the Statue explodes. Archangel is downed by Wolverine, who threatens to kill him while Wolverine is talking gibberish. Another psychic knife releases Wolverine from the spell and they continue.
Deadpool, with his mask riped open on the top are being examined by two scientist till they are killed. The team breaks Deadpool loose as EVA reports to Fantomex that they are in a space ship and it is about to blow. The group hopes on EVA and retreats.
Archangel informs Wolverine that he's had Deadpool tracking down Apocalypse for some time now and that the Statue was actually a member of the Last Horsemen of Apocalypse. Apocalypse has been reborn and they were going to kill him. Yet, the final page of the first issue reveals Apocalypse new host . . . a little boy.
Wolverine and Fantomex crawl out of being buried. Then Wolverine orders Fantomex to use his powers of misdirection on the ship before it teleports away. It works, making the Ship think it teleported. Deadpool in the meantime feeds Warren to get his strength as we get . . . OH MY GOD . . .Deadpool is feeling Warren his own skin. NEXT.
Ozymandias is angry when he finds that the Ship thinks it had teleported away, only to find that it just teleported itself to the same location. He orders the guards to get ready for X-Force when Wolverine and Fantomex begin to kill them all. Three of the Final Horsemen come into to deal with them only to get caught up by another illusion by Fantomex. Ozymandias is just angry when he finds that X-Force hasn't been taken down and that Psylocke is in the room with the boy when he is met by Deadpool and Archangel. The four members regroup to find Psylocke . . . now protected the host of Apocalypse. Wolverine and Archangel immediately try to talk her through this as she points out that he is an innocent child. Archangel points out that he's a blood thirsty killer when she points out that he's a child and that they are not heroes if they kill him for something he might do. Archangel believes there is not redemption for the child and ends up fighting his girlfriend. Archangel orders Wolverine to do this when Fantomex and Deadpool watch. Betsy gets the better of Warren when Wolverine says to stop and agrees with Betsy. That they can help the child. Archangel lashes out at them when he goes towards the boy. Yet . . . falls to his knees, unable to kill the child. Psylocke holds Archangel while Wolverine says they can rehabilitate the boy . . . BLAM!!!
A smoking hole on the young boy's head and Fantomex with his guy smoking. The book ends with the group heading back to Earth . . .visibly shaken by what has happened.
CLASH TACTICS
You know, when X-Force got cancelled to be restarted as Uncanny X-Force, I was kinda of disappointed yet intrigued. I can understand why the new number #1 yet at the same time, didn't really see much need for it. Though with how this first storyline ends up setting up EVERYTHING moving forward from the book, I can really see why. This one storyline opens up so much for the cast and plot of the book that it is still going on with aftermath of it even today. It is why I ended up picking this particular storyline to review and NOT the others.
Rick Remender does a great job of crafting one of the most pivotal stories in the X Universe in years. For a four issue story, there was a whole lot seen with our characters, both as individuals and as a group. The story's pacing was excellent, growing faster and faster to the conclusion of the storyarc in issue # 4. There was no real time to relax. Even the training sequence in the beginning of issue # 2 was still keep the pace forwarded and continually moving towards the conclusion.
The development of the team was also greatly established with wonderful character moments between the members of Uncanny X-Force. And while it seemed as if Psylocke and Archangel received the most amount of character development in the storyarc, Wolverine, Fantomex and Deadpool got great character depth as well. And not necessarily just through conversations or narrative Deadpool showed some interesting depths mixed in with his usual comedic moments. Fantomex was interesting as we see his snobby character mix extremely well with the cast members here. His attraction to Psylocke seems to be a plot line that can develop into more down the road. Wolverine is showing his chops as not only a leader but as a character that has evolved and believes in redemption. I honestly don't think that if this was the Wolverine of 10 to 15 years ago, he would have done what he did here. Remender really shows great work of our main cast but seemingly misses a bit with our protagonists. He took the time to develop origins of the Final Horsemen but only War and Pestilence are the only two that seem to have real character development. Also, I am undecided about how the Final Horsemen were tricked and then we didn't see them again.
Greetings and Salutations to all as we go into our final contender in our Cosmic Adventure Triple Threat match. This is Comic Book Clash and we will see another battle. First it was Invincible, then it was the New Warriors and finally, we end our cosmic romp with a look into DC's R.E.B.E.L.S.
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH:
VS.
VS.
R.E.B.E.L.S.
Issues #15 -17
Story (arc) name: What Happens In Vega . . .
Written by Tony Bedard with art by Claude St. Aubin & Sergio Ari~no
TALE OF THE TAPE
The R.E.B.E.L.S. is the second go around for a group called L.E.G.I.O.N., which is the present days answers to the Legion of Super Heroes, but it is VERY different from the LSH. R.E.B.E.L.S. or L.E.G.I.O.N., they are acronyms but I am not getting into their meaning, are a security agency that protects planets and star systems . . . for a price. Lead by Vril Dox, known to many as Brainiac 2, a direct ancestor to LSH's Brainiac 5, he and his team goes out into the universe, gaining client worlds that want L.E.G.I.O.N.s protection. And that is what happened for years till his son, Lyrl Dox, took over the L.E.G.I.O.N. with Lydea Mallor, daughter to one of L.E.G.I.O.N's founding members Lyrissa Mallor and ancestor to Tasmia Mallor, aka Shadow Lass of the LSH. Yes. You do need a score card for everyone's relation when it comes to these groups. Dox, Stealth and the Alpha members of L.E.G.I.O.N. became R.E.B.E.L.S and took down Lyrl Dox; now mind you, Lyrl was just a toddler at this point.
Fast forward to the present. Vril Dox had returned to full control of the L.E.G.I.O.N, firing ALL his staff and replaced them with machines. Yes . . . Vril Dox is a bastard. Get used to that statement. All was well for those planets under L.E.G.I.O.N.s protection .. . till the robots got hacked into by Starro the Conqueror . . . Yes . . . the STARRO the Conqueror with a nice reboot. Dox was once again an outlaw and decided he need to get L.E.G.I.O.N. back. Brainiac 5, from the less than enjoyed Mark Waid reboot, appeared to Vril Dox and gave him an outline to reform L.E.G.I.O.N. along the lines of the Legion of Super Heroes. Yet, Vril Dox, being the jerk that he is, decides that he will use the outline his own way and not the way mapped out by his descendent. Doing so, Vril reformed a core Alpha team and retook control of L.E.G.I.O.N, hiring all sorts of aliens as his soldiers and creating a new team with: Adam Strange, Captain Comet, Amon Hakk (was a member of the L.E.G.I.O.N. during its original run), the Durlan known as Ciji, an abandoned Dominator known as Xylon, the monsterous Tribulus (who is based on an enemy of the LSH), Wildstar ( a being that can be best summed up as a fuse of popular LSH members Wildfire and Dawnstar) and Boulder, who is a friend of L.E.G.I.O.N. founding member Strata, who are both rock people. The liberation of planets conquered by Starro lead to the L.E.G.I.O.N's resurgence. And now . . .
CLASH FACTS
On the planet Maltus, the team is dealing with the aftermath of their final battle with Starro. Dox mentions how are the people of these worlds cheering Despero for holding a public execution of Starro while he's vehemently hated . . . by just about everyone on Maltus. And to prove that, just outside the building they are staying is a large riot with anti Dox signs up. Amon reminds Dox that Maltus was the FIRST world that felt Starro's wraith when he used Dox's robots to attack the Vega system. Then a laser blasts stop their argument. The team quickly looks for an attacker as Captain Comet finds the culprit after some coaxing from Dox. Captain Comet uses his telekinesis to disarm the assassin, a citizen of Dox. Dox had planned for make the new L.E.G.I.O.N. headquarters there but Adam Strange said that Maltus would not work for a base planet after the assassin assures the team that he is only one of millions who want to kill Vril Dox. Yet, Adam Strange states that he has a place in mind for the new L.E.G.I.O.N. headquarters.
Meanwhile, a ship was working its way into the Vega System when they were suddenly boarded by Tamaranean Pirates. For those of you who don't know, Tamaranean are the race of beings that Teen Titan alumni Starfire is a part of. And funny thing, after the pirates start searching the ship, they find Starfire. Starfire quickly downs the pirates, stating how easy it was but only signals how bad Vega has become since her last visit. The pirates give no more resistance as they recognize their princess. Starfire orders the people on the ship she was traveling on to lock up the pirates and go to the nearest law enforcement group. She then flies out on her own to her destination.
On Rann, Dox, Adam Strange and Strange's father-in-law, Sardath love over the now deserted and near dead planet that was decimated by a space god some time ago. Dox being Dox mocks how Sardath, the inventor of the Zeta Beam teleportation technology lacked imagination. As Sardath wants to leave, Adam informs him that Dox has a plant to bring Rann back to life. Sardath says it is impossible when Dox merely smirks and answers that Rann can live again . . . just not where it is and asks Sardath to build the biggest Zeta Beam that he could make.
Over on Despero's planet Kalanor, Starro, who now has a humanoid form goes on about this is not happening over and over again. Why is he repeating that? Cause the galactic tyrant is about to be executed on live television by Despero himself. Yes . . . One Justice League villain is about to get killed by another. Yay! Despero's people cheer him on when a female who kinda looks like Lobo and a warrior alien known as Smite, Starro's 2 top generals , free him before Despero can bring down a large axe on him. The three escape Kalanor with Despero vowing that he will kill them all.
Starfire travels alone through the stars, lamenting that fact that Dick Grayson is no longer in love with her and she feels she no longer has a home. The pain of that is amplified as she goes to where her homeplanet, Tamaran, once stood; now nothing but small debris of the once majestic planet. As she cries, she is suddenly engulfed by light. As the light dies down, another planet now stands in front of her with her merely saying:
Tamaran .. .?
Planetside, we find Ciji in some kind of giant insect crab form as she puts in a machine onto the ground. She tells robots and workers to move on to get the next unit up only to get blasted from behind by Starfire. Starfire is angry, stating what have they done to her planet and what is with the Terraforming technology. Starfire plans to stop them when she is shot down by Wildstar. After a brief tussel between the L.E.G.I.O.N. members and herself, Starfire is welcomed by her old friend, Adam Strange. Adam Strange tells the L.E.G.I.O.N. to stand down. Adam takes Starfire to see Vril Dox who welcomes her pleasantly. Starfire has none of that. knowing of his reputation. Dox explains that he the destruction of Tamaran left the Vega System unstable and that planets would soon collide if he did not do something. He also explains the recent events that left Rann a lifeless world with its people becoming refugees. Starfire apologizes and feels empathy to Adam Strange and his wife. Dox then explains that he decided to deal with both problems at once. The equipment would terraform Rann and help it restore itself in a new system while Rann taking Tamaran's old orbit would stabilize the Vega System. For this, the Rannians have agreed to let L.E.G.I.O.N. host its new headquarters on Rann once the terraforming is finished.
5 weeks past and Rann has been revitalized. Rann refugees from all over have started to come back to the planet, now in the Vega System. Yet, Starfire's sister, Blackfire, catches hold of this news and is completely angered by it. She leads the majority of the survivors of Tamaran and its armies. She decides to use the refugees return to enter undetected to the planet; vowing that she would kill Dox. The Psion view this development. So do the Guardians who state that the Green Lantern from Rann wants to transfer to its new sector. Yet they deny the transfer, staying letting the new Lanterns of Vega to handle the situation.
Dox meets with the team, concerned that the public sees him mostly as the son of Brainiac. We go through a quick history lesson about Dox and the L.E.G.I.O.N with Dox stating he wants to change that perception of him and the team. Captain Comet points out that if he had not let murders like Lobo join the team, he'd have more creditability as a man of peace. Dox says anyone can leave whenever but if they stay that they will be part of the greatest law enforcement movement in history. He corrected the mistake of having robots by having sentient beings be his army while new and old planets are signing up with the L.E.G.I.O.N. and that they bringing law into the Vega System will catapult them with the rest of the universe. Comet then reminds him that dropping Rann where Tamaran used to be will cause all sorts of conflicts and to be ready for the consequences. Dox waves off Comets words and leaves for a meeting he stated he needed to go to.
The two New Green Lanterns of the Vega System, a Warlord of Okaara named Altin Ao'ms and a female Psion named Gorius Karkum fly after some pirates. Just as they were about to catch them, L.E.G.I.O.N. patrols decend on the pirates and arrest them . . . after shooting Altin. Altin is about to pick a fight with L.E.G.I.O.N. when Gorius stops him, reporting the incident to their superiors. Lantern Salaak calls Dox over coms and pretty much yells at him for his patrols nearly killing Altin. Salaak goes on about Altin being a favorite son of Okaara but Dox simply tells him to kiss off. Adam asks if antagonizing the Green Lanterns is a good idea and Dox states they are not even a problem as far as he is concerned.
Adam talks to his wife about Dox as she looks to him for reassurance, only to get interrupted by knocking from Captain Comet. Comet tells Adam that he's living, thinking that L.E.G.I.O.N. is a disaster waiting to happen under Dox's control. Before Adam and he can talk further, Starfire passes them. She has a Legion symbol where her ruby used to be, stating she is now an official member and wants to help clean up the Vega System. Adam is about to tell Starfire about Comet quickly when Comet quickly passes the bag he was holding to Adam. Comet and Starfire begin to chat and walk off with Adam and his wife watching. The two continue their conversation as Starfire asks about Comet's powers. Comet admits he has picked up that Starfire left because of a guy when a big explosion stops their conversation. Blackfire's armies and ships attack Rann around L.E.G.I.O.N. headquarters. Comet and Starfire find her sister and Starfire takes her into the air, stating she heard Blackfire had lost her powers. Blackfire first mocks Starfire's sanity for wearing the L.E.G.I.O.N. symbol then attacks her with her powers.
R.E.B.E.L.S. #17 opens with a brief history of Blackfire, including how she lost her powers and how she forced the Psion's to give them back to her. We go back to Starfire and Blackfire facing off . . . with Blackfire having a slightly different hair style. Hmm . . .
Captain Comet figures that Starfire could get the Tamaranean troops to stop fighting and uses his telekinesis to hold Blackfire. Adam shows up and orders the Rannians to face off against the Tamaraneans; pointing out to keeping casualities down due to bad leadership.Adam calls Dox, telling him what is going on. Dox blows him off, stating he is in the middle of negotiations in the Polaris system and can't be disturbed; telling Adam to take care of it. Adam takes charge of L.E.G.I.O.N. Blackfire throws Starfire at Captain Comet, stating how dare she side against her own people. Starfire yells back that she has no right to say anything after helping the Citadel conquer Tamaran years ago. Blackfire goes nuts and has her people ready to fire at the Rannians and L.E.G.I.O.N. Yet, the new Green Lanterns hold back the warriors and drop their weapons but the Tamaraneans and the Rannians resist the Green Lanterns, asking them why are they even here. As both species fight against the Green Lanterns, Blackfire goes to Adam Strange and asks about the Zeta Beam. The two leaders and the Green Lanterns teleport away from the planet where Blackfire states that their issues are private and no one asked for Green Lantern intervention. Gorius snaps that their interference was brought on by L.E.G.I.O.N. but Adam says he has Rann's best interest at heart. Blackfire states she will stand down after hearing Adam only to see Thanagarian warbirds fly in to the Vega System. The four are invited into one of the Thanagarian ships and see Dox there, who states he was brokering a peace. With Rann in the Vega System and everyone in the Thanagar/Rann War dead or imprisoned, the hostilies between Thanagar and Rann are pointless and let peace rain. Dox had the Thanagarians send out troops that stopped the battle back on Rann. Blackfire dives, grabbing Dox's neck in rage. She demands everyone to back off or she will blow Dox's head off but Dox smiles and says that killing him will give up a chance for her people to have a home. Blackfire eases up as Dox reveals that he feels that the Rannians will broker a peace with them with the southern continent of Rann empty; giving the Tamaraneans a new home.
They broker a peace with Starfire commenting to Comet that she hates people pretending to be friends when they hate each other but Comet merely answers " Welcome to politics." Altin and Gorius report about the peace and Salaak throws a fit then orders them to keep an eye on Dox. Our story ends with a ball with spikes know as Pulsar Stargrave coming through a portal and meeting up with Lyrl Dox; who recruits him to help break out his grandfather . . . to suck his brain.
CLASH TACTICS
Okay. I am gonna make this short and sweet. Claude St. Aubin and Sergio Ari~no do a great job with the pencils, Ari~no only doing #17. St. Aubin does good with with bring good amount of facial expressions and emotions on the page as well as deal with the diverse characters that R.E.B.E.L.S. have. St. Aubin's first picture of Starfire should be a poster cause it displays how pissed she is while still be sexy at the same time. Yet, there seems to be a bit of laziness at times when dealing with people and perspective. It is not much but there just feels as if with some of the faces of the aliens in 15 were fine when they were far away and other times as if he just put two dots and a couple of lines. Overall though, his word is pleasing to the eyes and very well suited for all the kinds of aliens we see. Ari~no has the same problem at times and there seems to be a proportion issue with him when it comes to faces and head length. Sometimes the heads are perfect and other times we see the same character and they looks slightly off. Yet, this is very little. Honestly, I barely noticed a change in art . . . with Blackfire's hair in #17 being the biggest indicator.
Tony Bedard does a great job of juggling a large cast of characters, storylines, locations and emotions in R.E.B.E.L.S. The writer gives a great overview of the history of the group while building a new foundation for this current group with this storyline. When the original L.E.G.I.O.N. book debuted back in 1989, the actual formation of the L.E.G.I.O.N. as a full fledge operation took nearly the entire first year. Bedard did a great job taking over a year to deal with the full formation while creating a reputable threat out of Starro the Conqueror. During this storyline, he gave the L.E.G.I.O.N. a new home, brought several alien species to piece, gained a powerful new member with Starfire, gave not 1 but 2 species a new home and saved an entire galaxy from collapse in 3 issues. And it was not a rushed three issue but a very good, solid pace of storytelling. Every character is distinct in their own way, whether they are a main or supporting or even a villain. Everyone is multi-layered and Bedard does this so very, very well with this story. Honestly, if someone was just jumping into the book, they would not feel too disjointed as this would be an excellent jump on point. Quality writing from Tony Bedard that I wish would get more recognizable but alas . . .R.E.B.E.L.S final issue is this month so . . . damn.
Overall, R.E.B.E.L.S is full of a wonderous cornucopia of multilayered characters, deep and stretching plots and wonderous backgrounds that really let you feel the cosmic in the air. Yet, the art hurt it slightly but still very good work which help breathed Bedard's script to live.
So R.E.B.E.L.S earned itself an Intercontinental Contendership slot. Thus, the Winner of the Triple Threat Match is none other than Robert Kirkman's Invincible. Oh wow.
Well, if you agree or disagree and want to vote on either R.E.B.E.L.S. or New Warriors as the winner, feel free to post your vote on the bottom.
Finally, I want to wish everyone a good Memorial Day and remember all those people who past away and fought for us, big or small. See you all Next week.
Welcome to another Comic Book Clash, where characters & comics duke it out for supremacy. And today . . . we continue our COSMIC TRIPLE THREAT with a look to the past. Last week, young Mark Grayson deals with war . . . with a planet being destroyed. Yes. A super hero destroys a planet and helps kill a majority of a race. How lonely. This week . . . we look back in 1993 to the Heroes of the 90s . . . the New Warriors; Although this is before the reality tv show crap that ended up making them targets by Millar to kill some of my favorite character and watch them start Marvel’s Civil War!
So join us as young Rich Rider, Nova, gets the spotlight as an adventure in space alongside the Warriors as a fate of an almost dead species. Yay! Welcome to our review of New Warriors #40-#42: Starlost.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The New Warriors had the (un) fortunate beginnings as being formed under the manipulations of Night Thrasher, a rich man who decided to get back at criminals since they killed his mommy and daddy to form his own super team with him leading them in some armor. And while Night Thrasher only wanted Nova, Marvel Boy(aka Justice) and Firestar . . . they formed with them plus Namorita and Speedball. The team fight all sorts of threats, including former Galactus Herald, Terrax; the rogue Inhumans called The Force of Nature; the power of the time manipulating Sphinx; the reality altering Proteus and the all powerful sorceress . .. maid, Tai.
Wait. Why? Why are you laughing?
Okay. I know it sounds weird but . . . take a small listen to this. This miserable hag decided to use Chord, a soldier who made a deal with her and have a baby with one of her daughters . . .actually had 2 kids with her that were Night Thrasher’s rival, Midnight’s Fire and Night Thrasher’s (then) girlfriend, Silhouette: in order to kill Night Thrasher’s parents and became of Night Thrasher’s guardian. They trained him and watched him grow up into the same psycho who took a then powerless Rich Rider and drop him off the top of an apartment building in
Since that time, the team has battled all those previous threats mentioned with Nova being cheap among them. After the 25th issue, Night Thrasher takes times off while Marvel Boy is in jail . . . for killing his secretly homosexual, jewish, physically abusive father. Sure it was self defense. Rage joined the team. Namorita became leader, got drunk after causing an international incident, have a one night stand with an enemy of Night Thrasher, who stole her phone book . . . with the names and address of all the Warriors and their families. That enemy leads a gang and attacks, kidnaps and even kills members of the Warriors families. Night Thrasher, alongside a boy who figures out Speedball’s identity, forces himself onto the team and leads the charge to defeat the gang, aka Poison Memories. Rage comes out and kills Namorita’s one night stand. She leads the team after making out with Nova, Night Thrasher leads again and Nova has been dating this one girl and we are now caught up to where we are.
CLASH FACTS
First, before I even start on this . . . this was during the 90s. New Warriors #40 had a gimmick cover that is a bit harder with gold color where Nova’s costume has gold or yellow and the logo and everything else is black and white with art by Darick Robertson. I actually love it! Oh wow. I know, right?
We see Supernova still lost in the time stream as narrative tells us why and how he got there while he finds out that he thought he had all of the Nova Corps powers but no . . . Rich Rider has part of it left. And Supernova is MAD about it.
Next, Speedball, Firestar and our hero in the cover, Nova, face off against Psionex member, Asylum. Asylum is mostly ghostly made of black clouds and if you are caught in it and it touches you, you will be faced with your worst fear. And Nova gets the trip this time around. We get to see in some interesting paneling that shows Rich’s fears of his family being killed by his enemies and him losing his powers. Firestar tosses Speedball in there and Speedball uses his kinetic bubbles to break Asylum . . . to the point that she . . . well, all that is left of her was her mask. Speedball asks if he killed her and Firestar reassured him that she didn’t. LOL. No Speedball . . . you are not responsible for being blood thirsty or a killer . . . yet. They check on Nova who yells at Speedball but quickly apologizes and files off. Firestar and Speedball watch him fly off as they see through their friend’s arrogance as Firestar points out:
“. . . None of his arrogance can cover up the amount of responsibility he puts on his own shoulders.
Speedball: Imagine if We expected as much out of him as he expects out of himself? Aneurysm time.
Nova flies in his skies as he is upset at yelling at Speedball and all the recent events of his brother losing a finger to Poison Memories and Namorita kissing him then flying away. He keeps thinking of what to do til he ended up go to see his date, Laura Durham. They meet up and start making out . . . Namorita who right?
They go for a walk . . . from where I am not sure . . . to a restaurant? Okay. Rich tells Laura about Namorita . . . without saying he’s Nova and she’s Namorita. Til Supernova arrives to be that ultimate douche. Nova gives Laura a business card with a number to call and tells her to say that “Rich needs help.” Laura asks why and what is going on and Rich says he can’t. And the number . . . 212 – MANHATTAN
Over in the space remains of what was once Xandar, machines start to work . . . one of them saying Cloning. Oh wow. And over in another star system, Air Walker is in pain . . . all cause Supernova is back in reality. Firelord checks on Air Walker and tells him that Xandar’s computer is up They decide to go to earth, sensing the Nova Corp energies are all back in this universe.
Supernova talks very loudly and argues with Nova, starting a battle. They talk and Nova gets angry enough to throw a Nova Burst . . . his first since my very first comic book storyline I collected, New Warriors’ Forever Yesterday. After that, Nova is exhausted and Supernova stated that either he give his powers to him or Supernova will destroy the planets.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are running out to their helicopter, with Warriors’ pilot Spocket yelling at Rage when Firelord and Air Walker arrive. Night Thrasher orders the Warriors to get ready to attack. Firelord says that they are not a threat and are here as Xandarians, which they were before they became Galactus’s waiters. They tell of Supernova and tell the Warriors that Nova is DEAD.
Next issue opens with Nova laying in Laura’s arms with him having nothing on but some kinda of ripped shorts that were pants. Okay . . . Bit of a continuity era. Last we saw Nova . . . he was in his NOVA UNIFORM. *sigh*
Next we open to a splash page of the Warriors with Firelord and Air Walker standing over Laura and the . . .dead Rich Rider. Air Walker Walker
Out in Shi’ar space, Supernova, now containing all the power of the Nova Corps, goes all kinds of crazy and starts . . . destroying starships. Supernova is corrupted by the power and states that since Shi’ar didn’t help Xandar when it was attacked by Nebula, he will make them pay; by killing them. Yes . . . restore Xandar’s honor . . .BY KILLING OTHER RACES. Yes, you are such a wonderful son of Xandar, Supernova.
Speaking of Xandar . . . we see one of the computers working haiving a baby . . . in a box. WHAT?!
Back on Earth, Hindsight Lad, aka the guy who blackmailed Speedball onto the team, goes over all the data they have on Xandar. Speedball reminds him that they already know it cause it came from Rich. Hindsight Lad asks when do they leave but Night Thrasher quickly dashes that and begins to say that he’s not even a part of the team. Rich tells the heralds to excuse the verbal battling when Firelord assume him that they have seen such stuff with the Avengers and Fantastic Four. They look after the data and realize that they could get the Xandarian World Mine, the master computer that can help make Xandar live again if they can get Supernova give off all his energy to the worldmind. Yet Nova asks what about getting his powers back. Air Walker
Small little interlude as Namorita goes to Atlantis to see Namor. Yet she is barred from the city. When she angrily protests, the Grand Vizer comes out to say that she is a clone and is sick. Before she yells, she collapses, the Grand Vizer stating that she is sick.
Two days pas as the Warriors are on the Firelord and Air Walker’s ship. As they follow the trail of Supernova’s destructive path. They meet up with Supernova and the battle begins. Well, kinda. Rich suits up to start fighting but Thrasher states they need to get their most powerful member to get Supernova down to a planet so everyone else can fight. Firelord says he is ready when Thrasher says it is not him. Air Walker
WAIT . . .Queen Adora . . . whoa, She-Ra has come up in the universe. She went from Princess to Queen. YAY!!!
Since Firelord gives Supernova that pearl of wisdom, Supernova grabs rich and disappears to Xandar. Back in Xandar, the cloned baby is all grown up and Queen Adora lives again . . .WHAT?! And she says that in order for Xander to live again, Rich is gonna have to die. Wow . . . second time told that.
Supernova holds Rich in his grasp as they arrive in Xandar. Supernova boasts about how they will bring Xandar back to its rightful glory. Rich asks how to bring back the dead and what they are doing is just crap. Rich says that Supernova will kill them both. Firestar uses her powers to help generate a new star gate to go after Supernova with the rest of the Warriors. Back to Supernova, Supernova gives all the Nova Powers to Rich . . . and . . . merge together . . .not merge together . . . merge together . . . not merge together . . .
Rich, now completely engulfed in the Nova Corps energies and . .. well, starts to go a little crazy. Not Supernova crazy but a bit dialed down. Rich states on how much the power is tearing him apart. Back on earth, the former Marvel Boy is given early release and Namorita is seemingly mutating according to Atlantean scientists. Nova explodes with power . . . destroying the ship. The Warriors walk up on one of Xandar’s sphere with Queen Adora saying that she brought them in and that their space suit saved them. Queen Adora then proclaims that if Xandar is to live . . . Rich has to die.
Firelord and Air Walker are fighting Rich, trying to get him to discharge the energies of the Nova Force into the Xandarian Worldmind in order for it to be resurrected. Yet, Rich wants to hold on to the power and knocks back Firelord and Air Walker: stating that he is too powerful. The Shi’ar arrive with an armada and the Imperial Guard. Rich takes on the Shi’ar as the Warriors get a new ship with Queen Adora, whose color scheme has changed since last issue’s appearance. The Warriors and Queen Adora disembarks . . . with the Queen being the only one . . . WITHOUT A SPACE SUIT. HUH?
Okay, Adora appears and Rich is shocked. But who can blame him, since she died YEARS AGO. Adora tells Rich that she was brought back to life cause of a failsafe. And we then got Rich asking how do you expect him to do that . . .WHAT? Do what? Then Adora says he must relinquish the Nova Force while Thrasher reassures him that they will try to get Rich into a space suit as quickly as possible. Rich starts on that he needs the powers to live but then decides that he won’t be defined by his powers and releases all the energy into the Xandar Worldmind, reliving the once dead world’s computers and Worldmind. Rich wakes up 3 days later, with the Warriors welcoming him. Rich asks how he is alive and the World mind and Queen Adora explain that they gave him enough of the Nova Force to revive him. So . . .Rich has died . .. 3 times in this 3 issue story arc. WOW, Marvel, WOW. Adora and World Mind have given Rich the rank of First Centrion Prime , basically the leader of the Nova Corps which they will rebuild in time and Rich is one again Nova, ending the comic with a new version of his costume and standing proudly.
CLASH TACTICS
Okay. Before we get into this, I’d like to clear something up. First, I started collecting comics because of the New Warriors. 20 years ago, I had picked up New Warriors # 11 and X-Factor #67 and collected all of Forever Yesterday storyline in New Warriors, then collected the entire first volume with happiness. I grew up with the members of the original run of Warriors: Nova, Justice (then Marvel Boy), Namorita, Firestar, Night Thrasher, Speedball, Silouette, Rage, Darkhawk, Dagger, Cloak, Bandit, Turbo, Powerpax, Hindsight Lad, Scarlet Spider, Helix, Timeslip . . . these characters were all a part of a great group of heroes that I respected and loved. Volume 2 happened and I collected. Volumes 3 and 4 happened and the group was sooooo different. But I always loved this original group of characters. With that said, there may be cause for alarm cause I may be biased of the work.
Allow me to make you feel better in saying that my love for the characters will NOT stop me from putting a hole in this or any other comic if there are things wrong. And let me tell you . . . there are some issues with Starlost.
First the good. And honestly, the only real good here for Starlost is the Art. Darick Robertson, Brandon McKinney and Larry Mahlstedt did a great job with the art within the 3 part story. Darick’s pencils and breakdowns are so very well done, conveying the emotions and epic proportions of the story with ease. You can tell that Darick has a great amount of ease that he feels with this characters back then. Rich’s stubble. Firestar’s . . . Speed Demon like costume. Speedball’s hair. Darick makes each character stand out and show emotion easily without words.
Brandon McKinney helps finish the pencils that Darick started for the final part of Starlost and does a great job. Larry Mahstedt is one of the most underrated inkers in the business. His inks are what helped get Mark Bagley up to the superstar status he earned. His ink help really bring out the best of any artists he works with. Letting the shadows be right for something emotional or something sinister with very obvious differences. Supernova was as epic as he needed to be. And Darick and Larry certainly made sure of it.
Another thing that I do not mention often but I really loved about the book was the panel work. The panels for most of the storyline were very much different in order to really give the story its outer space feel. Just in New Warriors # 40, part 1 of Starlost, we got some great panel work with the art to show that Supernova was indeed lost in the time stream. The panels really showed us the beauty of Darick’s artwork while showing the character’s emotion. This was done again when Nova was dealing with his fears inside Asylum. Excellent and visually appealing panel work that was set the book apart from many others in Marvel at that time. Kudos to Darick, Brandon and Larry for their wonderful work.
Which gets to my gripes. The coloring was exquisite for Joe Rosas . . . with a few continunity hiccups that editing missed. First, Supernova’s out . . . is it navy blue or purple. This happened a few times during the arc. Queen Adora is another. At the end of Starlost part 2, her color scheme changed between that and the last part of Starlost . . . with no explanation. And a few times, it seemed he wasn’t as inspired to color as vividly as he did in Starlost part one but over all, Joe Rosas did a great job.
Finally, my biggest gripe about this would have to be the story. Well not necessarily the story as a whole but the mistakes and continuity foul ups during Starlost. Fabian Nicieza is a good writer . . .even a great writer. But Starlost has some mistakes that holds it down. First, was during the transition between Starlost part 1 to Starlost part 2. Why was Nova dressed in full uniform at the end of part 1 but then in nothing but ripped jeans at the beginning of part 2. Did Laura strip him? Did Rich’s clothes burn up when Supernova took his powers? Did Rich get attacked by fangirls on the way down? WE DON’T KNOW! And it makes NO Sense. And while the whole cloning thing is kinda crazy . . . how does a clone know everything that the original Adora did? Can someone tell me that? Okay. I can dismiss that one. Then there is the constant fact that we keep hearing that Rich has to die. During the course of Starlost, we hear that at least five times during the story. We get it . . . Rich has to die in order for Xandar to live. Well, at least the comic did not disappoint . . . killing Rich at least twice during Starlost. The first time at the end of Starlost part 1 and the second after Rich gave up all of the Nova Force to the World mind. You might want to count him being reborn with the Nova force too but that was a confusing sequence. Honestly, at first I thought Supernova and Rich had merged into one being but in honesty, Rich had been filled with all of the Nova Force while we learned that Supernova survived . . . off screen.
Come on Nicieza. You can do better than that. For God’s sake, you just came off a great pay off from the whole Poison Memories storyline that had a hero’s family attacked unlike any other I had seen at the time. There were elements of Starlost that just seemed rushed. The bad transition between parts 1 & 2. Then the whole Adora thing when Rich asks how she is alive then she explains then goes right to him talking about something else completely and finally, the whole quick ending of Rich releasing the powers and World mind is up again. It just seemed like Nicieza had more to tell with Starlost but it was cut.
Nicieza is by no means a bad writer. Especially when it came to these characters who he had spent nearly 5 years with. He knows them well and Starlost was the vehicle that set up the new Nova ongoing (volume 2) back in 1993. The character development of the cast of the book was very solid over all. No one did seem to act differently. And Rich, being the main star of this tale, was given such good development and advancement of himself as a person and as a hero. The rest of the Warriors seemingly had bit parts but at the same time, they were not overshadowed by Firelord or Air Walker. The story itself was good if you look at the over picture of where it wanted to go.
The fact that Nicieza gave a legitimate reason for Rich not to give Laura his identity and talking about him having feelings for someone else was refreshing. Whatever dialogue we got from the Warriors, we got a good grasp of their personalities. The scope of the story matched well to Rich’s history and how the group dealt with being in space was interesting.
Overall, I had picked this story cause of the fact that last week was a war and the destruction of a planet. This was a story about the resurrection of a planet and a civilation. And since both Nova and Invincible are both around the same age during time of stories, it seemed to work very well for comparison.
Yet, looking at both stories, Starlost had so much potential that was taken down thanks to continuity mistakes and not enough time to tell the story as it was meant to be. Nicieza does great with characterization but transitions were lousy during the story. Yet, the art was spectacular with great panel work and wonderful visuals. The coloring was inconsistent but still enjoyable.
So Comic Book Clash is gonna give New Warriors: Starlost, an X Division Contendship ranking. It was a good story and had lots of potential but had too many small continunity gaps and missing parts of story that could very well make this a World Heavyweight Contender.
Next Week: Our Cosmic Triple Threat ends with a trip to DC and . . . nah, that would be telling.
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