This month’s a bit odd for Marvel’s releases. Because of All New X-men’s delay, 37 came out between issue 38 and 39. Because Guardians Team-Up 3 is part of the Black Vortex crossover, they decided to delay the crossover for two weeks so that Team-Up 2 could release first. Why not just make Team Up 1 part of the crossover? Anyway because of the delay, parts 5 and 6 both released this week. Also, a lot of conclusions for different story arcs came out today.
Outside of comics, I finished the third draft for my second book a few days ago, with the current word count of 89,917. I cut out a few scenes and completely removed one sub-plot (because it didn’t line up with the lunar cycle at the time), but I managed to incorporate some of that sub-plot’s elements into another, which I feel works better in more ways than one. I’m satisfied with this draft, but I intend to improve on it further this month, starting with dialogue-focused sweeps so that different characters talk differently.
I’m also doing a complete Marvel Cinematic Universe marathon in anticipation for Age of Ultron, in chronological order. I just re-watched the first episode of Agents of Shield last night, and I plan on writing a few blog posts about this when I find the time. My first will probably be on my thoughts of Wave 1 as a whole.
Anyway, the comics I picked up this week include All New X-Men 39 (Black Vortex 5), Guardians Team-Up 3 (Black Vortex 6), Wolverines 11, Cyclops 11, Magneto 16, Black Widow 16, Batgirl: Endgame, Batgirl 40, Supergirl 40 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 44. Here are my first impressions, and links to full reviews will be added when they’re posted. Most of these will be multiple comics in one review because of the nature of this week’s releases.
All New X-Men 39 and Guardians Team-Up 3 review
Batgirl 40 and Batgirl: Endgame review
Wolverines 11 is good. Somewhat like the last two issues, how much you’ll enjoy this depends on how much you like the subject character. This issue focuses on X-23 while she talks with Fang in a bar. Unlike the last two issues though, there’s a lot of story development here, both for Fang’s background and with Fantomelle’s recent robbing spree for Wolverine related items. This issue answers a number of questions, which makes me think it should have come sooner rather than have issues 8-10 interrupt the main story without giving us a reason. If you like X-23, this issue could be important whether you’re reading Wolverines or not. If you’re reading Wolverines, this helps connect the last 3 issues with the main story making it an easy recommendation for those who have read it up to this point.
Cyclops 11 is good. This concludes the bulk of the Cyclops series (the final issue is part of the Black Vortex crossover). Christopher Summers, Scott Summers and The Starjammers finally meet back up, just not in the best of places. It’s hard to describe this issue further without going into detail, but it highlights Cyclops’s heroic nature and how some people are too evil to be receptive of that. Although Cyclops’s solo series is ending, this does leave things open for a follow-up. If you’ve enjoyed Cyclops to this point, be sure to pick this up.
Magneto 16 is creepy, in a good way. With Magneto’s efforts to rebuild Genosha underway, there’s already murder going on. This issue combines the murder mystery with several moments from Magneto’s recent past, most notably one particular issue from Rick Remender’s Uncanny X-Force. The mystery is appropriately creepy, especially in the last few pages. While I wouldn’t call this issue great, this story could easily become great.
Supergirl 40 is good. This is yet another conclusion, where the Crucible (an interplanetary Hogwarts for superheroes) is under siege by several ex-students and an evil leader behind the school. It’s a shame that this series is being cancelled for now, especially since the new direction has been fun. I wouldn’t be surprised if they start a new Supergirl series around the time the TV show begins though; one can hope. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the very end of the comic, but otherwise this is a good conclusion to the series with some great character moments.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 44 is intense. The final conclusion issue for the week ends the large battle between the foot clan, Krang’s forces and the Ninja Turtles. A major villain is defeated, but not without a gut-punching price that most of us probably didn’t see coming. This is a very important issue for long-time readers, and this series as a whole should be read by Ninja Turtles fans, whether you normally read comics or not.
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ANXM had gorgeous art, and some good character stuff, but was a bit of a let-down.
Guardians Team-Up also had gorgeous art, but was even more of a let-down in terms of the story.
Wolverines was OK. Better than the previous two issues, but this Fang storyline is still going too long.
Cyclops was good, but this series has never really wowed me.
Magneto was good, but man, this series desperately needs some comic relief. You can’t just make things eternally grim and serious. Even Hamlet had the Gravedigger, you know?
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