Generation Next Issue 2 (Age of Apocalypse part 18)

Age of Apocalypse  Part 18

Generation Next #2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Scott Lobdell
Art by Chris Bachalo
Inks by Mark Buckingham
Colors by Steve Buccellato and Electric Crayon
Lettered byStarkings and Comicraft

Open with:
A beautifully rendered picture of Illiyana Rasputin and a human girl hiding in a hovel of a slave mining town.  The two are hiding out from a mutant that roams the paths of the mining town. The mining town it's self is drawn with great line work that gives a since of age and scope to the world. As the two girls hide we see the first glimpse of this creature that has this mining community cowering in fear.  The creature is called The Sugar Man.
The Sugar Man walks by Illyana's sleeping quarters but pauses momentarily takes a couple of quick sniffs. He then walks away and the two girls feel a since of relief.

CUT TO:
Above the Mining village two humans are standing around discussing their work day. Which sounds rather grim, mentioning how many dead they had to take care of. It is very much a double act similar to classic doctor who Robert Holmes stories.  So the two humans hop onto the shuttle that will take them home.

 

Inside the shuttle the two continue their conversation only to be interrupted by a figure in the shadows.  That figure being the mutant Chamber, and he uses his power to take out the two humans as part of the over all plan is to use their uniforms to sneak into the mining facility.

 

 

 

MEANWHILE:
Outside the perimeter of the mining facility, Piotr and Kitty are making there way on foot to sneak in the back. The two give us a quick breakdown of the plan they came up with between issues 1 and 2.  We also learn that the two consider themselves married in this alternate reality, so we get a little of the married couple squawabbling like a typical comic trope.



As Kitty takes a moment to light up a cigarette, hey this is a nineties comic, she is grabbed from behind from the shadows.  Piotr comes back to her to see what is taking her so long and see that the person that grabbed her was a mutant named Undercloak a mutant that uses shadows and darkness as his power.  Of course Piotr just picks up the boulder next to him which distracts Undertow.  Then Kitty uses her claws to stab undertow in the back.

 

 



CUT TO:
The Spa in the mining colony, Paige Guthier a.k.a. Husk is disguised as a slave attendant to the Spa and appears to be tending to  a mutant by the name of Quietus. Quietus is top level mutant in the mining facility and also a scumbag.  He orders Paige to come with him after his bath and he takes her back to his quarters.



Quietus forces himself onto Paige and kisses her, She then pushes him off her and gets sick.  At which point Quietus tells her he has a mutant detector that makes other Mutants violently sick. He then punches Paige after assuming that she is a mutant assassin.



Quietus then begins the typical henchman rant and sees the flask that Paige brought with her. Being cocky he takes a big swig of it. Paige asks him not to drink it, but with in a few seconds Quietus learns why.  After some burping and bubbling Vincent forms back into his human form an tears Quietus from the inside out. The two then have the opportunity to look through Quietus paperwork and files to locate Illyana and report back to Colossus.



CUT TO:
Outside the mining colony wall a service man is taken out by Mondo. Just then a Quietus look alike of one Paige Guthire and Vincent walk past unaware of Mondo's camouflaged location.
Pagietus walks up to the entrance to the mine and questions the guard and see the two mutants of her team.  She tells the guard that the two workers are to accompany her/him on his rounds.


Elsewhere:
Below the entrance to the mine we see Illiyana hanging outside her dwelling when one the guards calls out that the work shift is beginning. Of course he does it in a more colloquially term and blasts Illyana in the face with a water stream from his mouth.

Next issue:  THINGS GET WORSE.



THOUGHTS ON THE STORY:
Scott Lobdell has a way with Young teams, during the mid Nineties he had way of making the characters believable and three dimensional. You really got invested in there hopes and trials.  This particular issue continues that. Scott manages to tell the start of what could be considered a heist story while still introducing each character's role in the team. While the goal is established at the beginning of this book, Save Illyana, it also continues to build the world around this teenage team.
ART:
 Chris Bachalo has a special talent with borders panel layout and backgrounds.  His figures and simplistic and amazing. With very Little line work he can create figures that are gritty and have an aged  look to them. In this particular issue he is able to draw two young girls in the opening of this story that have a look of being in a mine and just look tired and worn out.  Then later in the book he draws and renders Shadowcat with a look of youth but manages to convey a wisdom from years of fighting.
Finally his line work on backgrounds gives the story a feeling of scope. He makes the world look lived in and the characters shine in this world of broken and battered buildings and scaffolds.

Score  8.5 out of 10

Weapon X #2 (Age of Apocalypse Part 17)

Age of Apocalypse  Part 17

Weapon X  #2

Written by Larry Hama

Art by Adam Kubert

Inks by Dan Green

Colors by Joe Rosas

Lettered by Pat Brosseau

Open with:

Weapon X on a crowded beach shouting for Jean amongst a plethora of North American refugees seeking asylum. He searches for her out of worry because his psychic connection has been momentarily reduced and he is afraid that she has left him or worse yet hurt.

  He manages to find her and feels relief as she is assisting refugees to safety further up the beach.  The two discuss their situation and Jean tells him that she doesn’t agree with the assault  the humans have planned for North america, which we learned about last issue.  

Meanwhile:   

What looks like paramilitary TSA body scanners  are being used to check for mutants and weapons among the incoming refugees. Of course one goes off to reveal two characters that hitched a ride from Amazing X-men issue #2.  Box and Copycat.

The two attack the guards, which seems to be a distraction for  a completely different group of people to sneak past the scanners.  The attack is witnessed by Jean, and this sets off  her mind of her fear of the  slave pits she lived in. So she asks Logan to help stop the two assailants that are attacking the human guards.


                         

Weapon X makes short work of them and uses the attack to reiterate his point that they need to end “them” before they end us; thus showing further support  with the overall plan to attack Apocalypse in America. Weapon X then walks off to let Jean think about their situation.

                       

Later:

Weapon X shows up at the Human High Council and is met by Mariko. She speaks with him in private to voice her concerns about finding another way to resolve the fighting between the humans and mutants. She too doesn’t want the humans to use the “doomsday” weapon on the mutants in North America.  While she expresses her concerns about her fellow members of the high council she also plays on their old connection to Japan and some history they have together through her father prior to the rise of Apocalypse.
                     

Just then one of the Zeppelins has an explosion on the flight deck.  Mariko tells Weapon X that it is the one that contains the guidance system for the doomsday device and that if it isn’t saved then the plans for the human resistance will go up in smoke. Therefore Weapon X jumps out of the high council airship and manages to land on top of the inflamed zeppelin.

Meanwhile Inside the Zeppelin control room:

The three humans from the refugee beach at the beginning of this issue have taken control of the ship. They also look a little different from before as there cyber enhancements are fully activated.  As they prepare to set off another explosive device to finish the destruction of the guidance system, a well burned Weapon X falls into the control room.  

                          

Pierce, the main enhanced human leading the group orders the other two to attack Weapon X.  Of course our hero makes short work of them by cutting them down as they charge him.  Pierce sees that there is no hope of fleeing to saftey and sets of his detonator and blows up the airship.

The ship falls out of the sky to a firey pile in the middle of rural England.  A lone, burnt survivor walks out of the wreckage, Weapon X.  As Weapon X stubbles out of the pyre, his mind catches a flash of Jean as their Psi-link calls to him to say goodbye.

Cut To:

An airstrip near Cornwall, Jean prepares a plane to fly back to the former USA.  Weapon X speeds along the runway on his borrowed motorcycle and leaps onto the moving plane .  He attempts to stop her, but Jean surprises him by giving him a last kiss goodbye. Then she exposes her neck to him and tells him to make it quick.  Weapon X can’t kill the woman he loves, so he bails off the plane and lets her fly off into the sunset.  The issue ends with a promise of Wundagore as the next issue.  

THOUGHTS ON THE STORY:

Larry Hama is probably one of the most prolific Wolverine writers in the 90’s. Not only did he write for Age of Apocalypse but he also had a long run on the Main Wolverine title for several years.  Larry spent some time in the military and was brought that knowledge to the characters story.  He developed Wolverines relationship with Mariko, had him fight the hand as well as delve into his past with Team X. Larry brought the same style into the Weapon X storyline.  In this second issue he tells a tale of betrayal, sabotage, and love lost.  Managing to connect an over arching story from two other titles as well as give us some hidden exposition on some of the characters past. LIke Mariko and Logan's connection as well as his and Jeans history.

ART:    

Adam Kubert really brings his A game to this book.  Not only has he helped create and Alternate look to Logan aka Weapon X; but he as also created some great rendering of the battlescapes, and overall look to the world that is the Age of Apocalypse.  His style like his fathers has a flourish that goes with the name Kubert.  Adam’s work on this book flows well with the story, there are several full page shots that look wonderful, there is a visceral feeling on the first double splash page as refugees are being unloaded from damaged Sentinels. Dan Green’s Inks really show of the detail work that Adam’s work brings to the book.

Score  8.0 out of 10

Gambit & The X-Ternals #2 (Age of Apocalypse Part 16)

 

Age of Apocalypse  Part 16

Gambit & The X-Ternals  #2

 

Written by Fabian Nicieza

Art by Tony Daniel

Inks by Conrad, Milgrom, Christian

Colors by Marie Javins

Lettered by Chris Eliopoulos

X-calibre #2 (Age of Apocalypse Part 15)

 Age of Apocalypse  Part 15

X-CALIBRE #2

Written by WARREN ELLIS

Art by Roger Cruz & Rentaro Arlem

Lettering by Richard Starkings & Comicraft

Open with RECAP page.

SIDEBAR FUN COMIC GAME - ( DREAM CAST REBOOT BATMAN 66)

BATMAN 66 REBOOT DREAM CAST

Here is a little game I play sometimes on my way home from work.  Recast that movie or Cast a Reboot story.  Recently they released a new animated Batman and Robin starring the Classic sixties' actor's Adam West and Burt Ward. So I got thinking what if they Reboot the 1966 Batman TV show with today's actors and actresses.  So here is my list.

Factor-X #2 (Age of Apocalypse Part 14)

 Age of Apocalypse  part 14

FACTOR-X #2

                           

Written by John Frances Moore

Art by Steve Epting

Lettering by Richard Starkings & Comicraft

Colors by Glynis Oliver

X-man #2 (Age of Apocalypse Part 13)

X-MAN #2

Written by Jeff Loeb

Art by Steve Skroce

Inks by Mike Sellers, LaRosa, Conrad & Hanna

Lettering by Richard Starkings & Comicraft

Colors by Mike Thomas /Digital Chameleon

Amazing X-men 2 (Age of Apocalypse part 12)

Amazing X-men 2

Written by Fabian Nicieza

Art by Andy Kubert

Inks by Matt Ryan

Lettering by Richard Starkings & Comicraft

Colors by Kevin Somers/Digital Chameleon

Continuing from Issue 1 we are introduced to a new mutant character called Abyss.  An evil mutant composed of some black ribbony substance. He has found a lonely human child that was hiding and was part of the evacuation group heading to Eurasia. Abyss grabs the child and absorbs him into the center of his ribbons.

We then cut to the main group of the story where we find that the cloaked figures from the previous issue are in fact this world's Brotherhood of Mutants and are a religious group of mutants that see Apocalypse as a god. 

They had managed to take over the sentinels and set them on our Heros. A short battle ensues until the weather goddess, Storm shows up and uses her lightning to short out the sentinels electronics.  Of course his causes the Brotherhood to hightail it out of the battle zone.  As the group recovers from the attack we see Banshee flying over the area looking for where the Brotherhood ran off to.

He spots the transport that the Brotherhood used to arrive at the scene and discovers their lead the Madri dead and hanging upside down in the doorway. Curious as to what happen Banshee discovers Abyss the newest Horseman of the Apocalypse. Instead of fighting Banshee, Abyss tells him; I want Quicksilver and I have a human child here and will kill him if he doesn’t show up.  Of course Banshee takes off to relay the message.

Upon his return to the X-men, Banshee discovers that all the humans are suffering from a psionic attack from Abyss. He quickly tells Quiksilver about Abyss and his demand to face him.  Of course Quicksilver and Storm take off to face the monster.

Once at the transport they see that it is a trap for them and they spring the trap and fight Abyss.  Quicksilver manages to defeat the Horseman and send him to some dimensional void that was part of Abyss’ power set.

The two X-men get the human child back to his parents and we see that the other x-men have fixed the Sentinels and are starting to load up the transports to get the rest of the humans out of America. Yeah happy ending.

That is until we cut to Apocalypse in downtown Manhattan where we see Karma being interrogated by two of Apocalypses cronies to learn the exact location of Magneto and his X-men.  Apocalypse then enters the scene.

He reveals that he knows where the X-men are hiding and plans to attack them at the former home of Charles Xavier.  Next issue Magneto vs Apocalypse.

The art. What can I say about it. Andy Kubert is part of a dynasty of comic Artists and I really cannot nit pick his style as he is one of the top artist ‘s I think of when it comes to x-men artists. He pretty much picked up the pencil for the X-men from Jim (Slow mo) Lee left Marvel.  

The story was a little lacking and felt rushed with a resolution with Quicksilver and Abyss. We didn’t get much in the way of backstory between these characters as it was hinted that Abyss knew Quicksilver. Plus Fabian tacked on hint at a possible romance with Storm, just seemed a little forced.  I did like how the end of the story sets up the next chapter in this run of comics.  

Score 7.5 out of 10

mystery box comics for sale

In An attempt to make room for my other stuff and kids, and wife, and cat's . I am selling of sections of my comic collection. I've been putting stuff up on ebay but have little results that I am happy with therefore, I've decided to create the mystery box offers. 

It is rather simple I have take some random titles from different publishers and packed them into a medium flat rate box. The issues will at least be worth a total of 20.00 dollars.  I have the first mystery box created. 

classic valiant, and Image

because I can't list a mystery box on ebay the link is slightly spoiled as i list a few titles, but not what issues so it's still a little bit of a surprise.  

If you are interested in a mystery box please contact me through this site or google plus.  

Other mystery boxes to come will be posted below: 

Marvel/DC Mystery box                                   22.00 plus 13 dollars s/h  total  35.00 

90's throwback mystery box                     22.00 plus 13 dollars s/h total is 35.00 

Astonishing X-men #2 Age of Apocalypse (Part 11)

 Astonishing X-MEN #1 (Age of Apocalypse Part 11)

Written by Scott Lobdell. 

Art by Joe Madureira. 

Inks Dan Green and Tim Townsend. 

Colors by Steve Buccellato.

Picking up from issue 1; Rogue and the rest of the X-men are in Chicago to prevent the cullings from occurring. The X-men arrive a little too late as the mutant named Holocaust has already released his killer drones or probes to see where the humans are located in the city once known as chicago.  Upon seeing the death probes, Sunfire freaks out and reveals himself to the humans around him as he screams that he has had enough death and rushes off to takeout as many probes as possible.

Rogue sees this and with a great sigh takes off after him, leaving Blink in charge of evacuating any and all humans.  Sunfire takes out several; as Rogue attempts to talk him down so that they can focus on the evac. Rogue discovers what Apocalypse and Holocaust did to Sunfire prior to him joining the x-men when Apocalypse marched his legions across the world.  She manages to stop Sunfire and continue to help the humans.  

 

We then cut to Westchester as we again see Bishop interact with Magneto. Bishop as a lot of animosity towards Magneto. He starts to act like a jerk when Magneto reminds Bishop at he is attempting to put young Charles down for nap.  Bishop quick changes his tone and begins to act like a human.

 



We are then shifted back to Manhattan where we see Apocalypse is angry over the evenings in Amazing x-men 1 and calls for his crony Rex. He demands to know if Rex has found the x-men base yet. Coincedently he just gets the search results as Apocalypse is ready to rip his head off. Rex then shows him the Xavier mansion and Apocalypse does one of his maniacal laughs.

We then cut back to Chicago where we see Sabretooth and Blink share a moment; and  Sabertooth asks Blink to send him to where Holocaust is to slow him down long enough so the X-men can finish their mission. Reluctantly Blink acquiesces and sends Sabertooth and an unconscious Wild Child to Holocaust's location. Indianapolis, Indiana.  

 



Sabretooth and Holocaust fight and then fight some more and then Sabertooth eventually beats Holocaust by fracturing his containment suit and then Sabertooth passes out as his healing factor tries to repair all the damage. Holocaust being composed of energy, manages to reassemble himself back into his containment suit.  Then we get the; to be continued.



As a followup issue to the story I thought it was pretty solid. However, the whole idea that Blink can now exactly where a person is at in order to transport some one there is a little sketchy. Had it been partially explained then I wouldn't have questioned it. We do get some more back story through a dream sequence as well as expositional storytelling.

The art was great Joe Madureira's art is pretty tight with his line work. The sharpness of Sabertooths features really shows his more feral side.  His women are draw a little over proportional as most nineties super hero books.  

All in all I would give this an:  

8.5 out of 10

 

 

 

X-Universe Issue #1 Age of Apocalypse part 10

X-Universe Issue #1 Age of Apocalypse

Written by Scott Lobdell and Terry Kavanagh

Penciler Carlos Pacheco

Inker Cam Smith

Colorist Kevin Somers

During the Age of Apocalypse the question of where are the non-mutant hero's.  Where is the Fantastic Four? What happen to the Avengers? Or Where is Spider-man? 

Well those questions are answered with X-universe.  This book takes a look at the human side of a World ruled by Apocalypse.  

And without futher Ado.... here is the story.

We open in Wakanda, the home of Black Panther and one on the most Technologically advanced civilizations know to man.  Of course in this world it isn't so.  Black Panther is dead, Wakanda is a nation of destroyed and downtroddened humans.  We see a human releif worker named Gwen Stacy. Yep, Peter Parkers first girlfriend in our universe. She is assisting the many downtroddened humans left in Wakanda.  We see that she has been torn down in this world. She can barely remember a time when this city was a marvel to rival all cities. Now it is ash and ruins a childeren run around half naked, people are dying of disease and starvation. 

 

As she helps pass out the last of her food and medical supplies they are attacked by four lone figures; a group of human terroists called the Mauraders. These humans are Wilson Fisk, Norman Osborne, Arcade, and The Owl.   They are scavengers and former business men that have sided with Apocalypse. They are tolerated by the great and powerful, because they attack and kill humans as all terroists and sadists do. 

These Mauraders have come to Wakanda to pick at the bones of the city and kill any remaining humans in the country. Of course they didn't count on a resistance fighter and survivalist by the name of Gwen Stacy. Using her one and only weapon to defend the remaining humans she taks a shot at Wilson Fisk. Her weapon is a really really big gun.  With one shot she manages to vaporize the rotund villan before he can make any really attempt to hurt Gwen.  

Shortly after that she is set upon by Arcade. Of course he attempts some banter and before he can pounce onto our young heroine, he is stopped by falling medical supplies from a GIANT ROBOT SPIDER.  

After turning Arcade into goo, the Giant Robot Spider uses it's two cannons to take out Owl and Norman Osborn. Thus eliminating the Mauraders.  We also find out that the Robot Spider is being pilotted by Clint Barton and Tony Stark.  They have come to Wakanda in search of there friend and fellow resistance fighter Donald Blake.  

As usual Tony Stark attempts to flirt with Gwen, but being a no nonsense tough as nails survivor she doesn't take to kindly to it and threats the former billionare.  Thus brings us into a nice entery point for Donald Blake.  

Tony tells Donald about the situation in England and that he is needed in the resistance headquarters. Donald reluctenly accepts  and we cut to England.

In London we see a fleet of airships that have arrived from the United States with a Mutant envoy to herald peace between the resistance and the mutants. Or so we think.

We are then introduced to this worlds Ben Grimm and Sue Storm both pilots for the resistance as well as survivors of Apocalypses slaughter of the human hero's . While on patrol and escort duty for the coming ambassador an explosion occurs at one of the resistance bases and the former fantastic four head off to investigate.  They come across a grey Hulking monster and learn that he was the cause of the explosion.  The now Terrific two battle the grey creature and manage to shoot an ear off, there by frighting of the grey monster.  While looking through the wreakage they come accross the scientist Bruce Banner and discover that he too has lost an ear. Coincedence?


The two take Dr. Banner back to the resistance main base where Victor von Doom is meeting with the  Mutant Ambassador Mikhail.  Mikhail invites the resistance on his ship to discuss peace talks, but in actualitiy has brought them on board to be his prisoners.  Plus like a maniacal despots he reveals his plans to destory the humans in England with his weapon.  the Mutant known as Empath.


Art in this book is Fantastic. Drawn by Carlos Pacheco  who has a very organic look to his style.

I give this story an 8 out of 10.  Great story, it's nice to see that the human hero's are still in the game.

X-man Issue #1 (Age of Apocalypse Part 9)

X-man  issue #1 Age of Apocalypse.

Written by Jeff Loeb

Art by Steve Skorce

Colors by Mike Thomas

During the Age of Apocalypse alternate timeline  Cable’s title became X-man. In the original timeline, Cable was a time displaced mutant. His past was shrouded in mystery and was claimed to be the son of Scott Summers and Madelyne Pryor. Now in this timeline he is the creation of Mr. Sinister to be the downfall of Apocalypse. His genetic makeup is from Scott Summers and  Jean Grey.  This makes us ask the question who are his parents? Scott and Jean, or Mr. Sinister? What fate is in store for our young X-man.  

Gambit and the X-ternals Issue 1 ( Age of Apocalypse part 8)

Gambit and the X-ternals Issue 1

 

Written by Fabian Nicieza
Art by Tony Daniel
Inks by Kevin Conrad
Letters by Chris Eliopoulos

During the Age of Apocalypse alternate timeline the X-force title became Gambit and the X-ternals. In the original timeline, X-Force was the team originally known as the New Mutants. Their Team Leader was Sam Guthrie and sometimes Cable.   Now in this timeline The X-ternals are an amalgamation of X-factor, X-force, and X-men. They are lead by the enigmatic Gambit; and  basically are a modern and twist version of Robin Hood and his Merry men.

Weapon-X Issue 1 (Age of Apocalypse Part 7)

Weapon - X  issue #1 Age of Apocalypse.

Written by Larry Hama

Art by Adam Kubert, Karl Kesel, Dan Green, Chris Warner

Colors by Mike Thomas

During the Age of Apocalypse alternate timeline  the Wolverine title became Weapon-X. In the original timeline, Wolverine was a loner character. He had little memory of his past and loved a fellow teammate from afar.  Now in this timeline Weapon-X has teamed up with the love of his life, Jean Grey; and they are attempting to help humans that live in this decimated world.  

Generation Next Issue #1 (Age of Apocalypse part 6)

Generation Next  Issue #1 Age of Apocalypse

Written by Scott Lobdell

Art by Chris Bachalo

Inks Mark Buckingham

Colors by Steve Buccellato/Electric Crayon

During the Age of Apocalypse alternate timeline  the Generation X title became Generation Next. In the Original Timeline Generation X was the next Mutant team for the new Gen Xer's. A cast of Mutants for the next generation of kids. They are students at the New Xavier School for Gifted Students. Taught by Sean Cassidy and Emma Frost.

Now that the world has been turned upside down by Apocalypse and his ruling party the next generation of students are being taught by Kitty Pryde and Piotr Rasputin; Also known as Shadowcat and Colossus.