Uncanny Origins #6

   

  Featuring everyone's favorite blue furred mutant, the Beast, this issue of Uncanny Origins is proof that you can do an overall general history of a character and be entertaining, engaging, and still be all encompassing in just 32 pages or so. Writer Michael Higgins (Big Hero 6), does an excellent job of covering just about every aspect of the Beast's life. From the nuclear accident that causes his father to pass on mutated genes to becoming a football star, to his days as an X-Man to Avenger and back again- everything you wanted to know about Hank McCoy is here- including his ever-mutating body image!

    Dave Hoover returns with his animated art style and every page is killer! I'm really starting to become a fan of his...

   Speaking of fandom, I must confess that Beast is probably my favorite of all the X-Men. Yet, when I list favorite characters of all-time, I always overlook him for Nightcrawler and Colossus and I can't put my finger as to why that is. Hank McCoy is smart, funny, daring, and visually when he's all blue and furry, one of the most eye appealing characters of all-time. This is the issue that will help you too fall in love with one of the founding members of the X-Men- even if some of the more glamorous and gritty mutants tend to overshadow him.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Uncanny Origins #4

Issue #4 stars one of the cosmic stars of the Marvel Universe. OK, Firelord is more of a third tier character, but that last sentence was a pretty good pun you must admit. I am actually at a loss as to why they chose Firelord as this issue's subject. With every issue thus far about mutant characters, I was convinced that Uncanny Origins was an X-men title.

  So why the sudden switch and focus on one of the heralds of Galactus?

  I didn't get my answer until the end of this book where there were a couple of full page tributes to writer/editor Mark Gruenwald, who died suddenly a few weeks before the publication of UC4. Gruenwald was tackling the editing job for this series when he past. As a tribute to him, they chose one of his favorite characters from his epic run on Thor in the 80s- that being Firelord.

  The previous issues have been more of a rough overview of the early life and times of that issue's focus. This issue was mostly an honest to god story, focusing on a cadet of the Nova Corps, named Kril. When his commanding officer is abducted by Galactus, the corpsman makes it his mission to save his superior and friend.

  Years will pass before human and force of nature finally meet. But to uncover the fate of his missing companion, Kril has to make the ultimate sacrifice, giving up his life as a human and becoming the next herald Galactus. Once the transformation is made, the new Firelord will finally get the answer he's long sought. Believe me when I say it's the ultimate twist of irony!

  This is the best issue of the bunch ( so far, of course…) and it's not because this issue doesn't focus on mutants either. The writing by James Felder is quite good. Plus Dave Hoover does another bang up job on the artwork. But I think what made this issue stand out was the dedication of the Marvel bullpen to put out a loving eulogy to their fallen friend Gruenwald in the form of a comic.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.