Uncanny X-Men: Poptopia

The X-Men are back in London. No, the mutant superteam Excalibur hasn't reformed. Though an original member of the group is one of the heroes visiting England. Cerebro, the X-Men's mutant locating super computer has registered a large population of mutants underneath the streets of London. Nightcrawler, Ice Man, Archangel and Wolverine are on a mission to offer membership to their brethren. However, they'll need to offer sanctuary as an enhanced madman is on the hunt for these 'genetic freaks.'

The X-Men also have a secondary agenda: retrieve the AWOL member of Generation-X, Chamber. After a catastrophic encounter that lead this new generation of X-Men fractured, Chamber fled to London, hoping to find himself. Instead, he finds himself as the British tabloids latest subject when he catches the eye of pop superstar Sugar Kane. 

This volume is book-ended with 2 solo stories. Jean Grey and Wolverine must address their complicated relationship when they are transported into the fracturing mind of a brand new mutant who is enamored with the militant ways of Magneto. Then Warren Worthington, III learns that his family run mega-corporation has invested in a place called the X-Ranch. It's pretty much what you think. The X-Ranch is a sordid bordello where wealthy homo sapiens spend a ton of cash to get their kinky licks in the arms of a harem of seductive homo superiors. 

Published in 2001, this era of the X-Men occurs after Grant Morrison's revamp of the Children of the Atom. Those really cool black with yellow trim uniforms are still in service. Only now everyone looks like they're a cross between a model for American Eagle and a goth frequent shopper at Hot Topic. 

For the most part, the art is really good. Only the costume and character design is too cyberpunk. And there's one issue where the guest artists tried to emulate the fantastic Bill Sienkiewicz and just failed miserably. Joe Casey's plots are good. But the dialogue needs work. Who used the phrase 'What's your major malfunction?' back in 2001. It's an example of how the dialogue was about 20 years too late to appear in a Marvel comic book. 

I found this book at a thrift shop where I don't think I paid more than $2 for it. The UK Sun stylized cover really caught my eye and the price was nice, of course. 'Poptopia' was like riding a roller-coaster. Only it wasn't because of the level of action. Instead, there were extreme moments of superior quality dipping into depths of really bad comic book creating. I'm one to talk. I'm sure that Sean Phillips and Ashley Wood, among others, are much better artists than I will ever be. However, I also felt like a very good portion of this collection of X-Men comics wouldn't have met the standards of former editors Stan Lee or Jim Shooter 

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

What If... Donald Duck Became Wolverine #1

Marvel's What If Donald Duck Became Wolverine checks off several boxes for me. It's a one-shot. It's a Disney Ducks book. It's a What If. It's also a book that I've been looking forward to since seeing it's announcement a couple months back.

Fairly simple premise. The title of the book says it all. Building off of the similar trait of being  complete and destructive hot heads that can heal quickly from any injury, Italian Disney comic writer Luca Barbieri postulates what if the Old Man Logan storyline was set in the Disney animated universe. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this 2024 release. There was only 2 things that I wish was better. First was the names of the characters. They call the star of the book Donald-Wolverine instead of an amalgam of the two names. All of the characters who are Disney/Marvel combines are named this way. I would have liked a little bit of What The?! added to the story by calling the main character 'Donarine' or 'Wolverduck.' I think it would have been a funnier element to the story.

My second qualm was over the artwork. Giada Perissinotto's work wasn't terrible. It was just startling how different the characters looked in this more sleeker style than compared to that classic matte look established by Carl Barks and perfected by Don Rosa. Plus Perissinotto's more polished look just doesn't work with all of the characters. Grandma Duck looks nothing like herself; instead favoring Daisy Duck, if she was dressed up as one of the Golden Girls.

What If Donald Duck Became Wolverine jointly celebrates Donald's 90th birthday as well as Wolverine's 50th anniversary.  I had a lot of fun reading it. I really appreciated the segment that showed Donald-Wolverine over the course of his career in different costumes. Though I think Perissinotto missed a great opportunity to not have included a crucified Donald-Wolverine as an homage to Marc Silvestri and Dan Green's cover to X-Men #251. 

I'm really digging that Marvel is giving the What If treatment to other franchises in Disney's ever growing war chest. I'm holding out hope on a 'What If Star Wars Invaded the Marvel Universe.' (I've got a ton of ideas, so call me Marvel!) But until then, I've got to wait until next month for What If Donald Duck Became the Mighty Thor! It's going be great!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Deadpool & Wolverine

Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool. Hugh Jackman once again as Wolverine, despite claims that he was done with the character. Together on screen, finally... In correct costumed form!

While it was every Marvel fans dream to see comic book accurate versions of the Merc With a Mouth and Logan together on the silver screen, this wasn't my favorite Deadpool movie. That's because with Disney finally in charge of the two mutant properties, the reigns on Reynolds and Jackman were removed and they went into full berserker mode. 

Parents and guardians, you really shouldn't take a young child to a rated R movie. That being said, this is one R rated superhero film that no children under the age of 17 should be escorted to. The blood and violence was set to 11. There were so many F-words, I didn't know if Quentin Tarantino wrote the script or would have blushed at the shear volume. Lots of sexually graphic talk, especially from Deadpool. Though of the 3 movies in the franchise thus far, no nudity. 

'The material to be expected from a Deadpool movie,' is something you might say in regards to my alarm. However, I read a lot of Deadpool and a fair amount of X-Men stuff. No matter how many Explicit Material warnings Marvel might put on their edgier books, I've only encountered Wade Wilson or Wolverine using the F-bomb once each in comics and both were graphic novels and not monthly issues.  The level of violence; okay, I'll grant you that. But the sexual innuendo is way tamer even in comics rated Mature 

A lot has been made saying that Deadpool & Wolverine is a farewell letter to the FOX Universe of Marvel movies. I can agree to this and with the level of cameos surprises hidden in this roughly 2 hour film, I don't want to give away too much. Seeing the film just 5 days after the premiere, I am happy to say that there still were a few cameos and Easter eggs left that hadn't been ruined by social media. Be on the look out for a great sight gag that lambastes Rob Liefeld's inability to draw feet! Also, I will say that I wouldn't be surprised if you see some characters from FOX's ownership of movie rights return to the big screen because if anything, this movie basically ushered those films of the last 30 years into the Disney fold.

The TVA, Time Variance Authority, from Disney+'s Loki series plays a huge role in the movie. It's another one of those situations where you don't have to watch the 2 seasons of Loki to understand what's going on; but it helps. And I can definitively say without giving too much away: if you don't like the multiverse, then you will hate this movie. 

I don't mind the multiverse. In fact, I really enjoy Marvel's What If series. Deadpool & Wolverine doesn't just pay respect to the FOX Cinematic Universe of Marvel Movies; it also pays great tribute to the comics. Don't worry- the Wolverine who died in 2017's Logan is still dead. Though his body isn't resting peacefully, I can tell you that. Still, if you are the fan who's having trouble sleeping at night because Robert Downey Jr. is going to be playing a version of Tony Stark as Doctor Doom, it's probably best for you to watch something else.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Wolverine: First Class, Vol. 4: Ninjas, Gods and Divas

A couple of weeks ago, I was wanting to read something fun. Something light. Only, I'd select a book, head to the bedroom to read it and discover that a Halloween themed story is inside. I don't know about you but a personal rule of mine is that you can't read Halloween comics unless it's October. So I held on to that book and went to find another. Wouldn't you know it, it too had a Halloween time set story inside. I went through this like 4 times before I finally gave up. It was like I was cursed or something.

On Saturday, I went ahead and began reading this book. The debut issue of the X-Men/Power Pack miniseries, which is the Halloween tale, was the last story in this volume. I didn't see it as breaking the rules of I didn't read that story until October 1st. I also didn't expect this series to turn out how it did.

Based on the title of 'First Class', I thought that this was going to be a series of untold origin tales starring everyone's favorite Canadian mutant, Wolverine either before Weapon X or during his time as a member of Alpha Flight. That's kinda how X-Men: First Class turned out. Instead, the majority of the stories are set during the early days of the Uncanny X-Men, when Kitty Pryde was the only adolescent student at Xavier's School for Gifted Students. 

Professor X sees that Kitty Pryde needs to toughen up a bit, least she never make it as an X-Man. Xavier also thinks that the hard travelling Logan needs to lighten up a bit and learn some empathy. Thus a classic team-up is born. Only don't expect these stories to just involve Sprite and Wolverine. There are a ton of cameos representing the mutant race as well as pairings with a slew of superstars from the Marvel Universe.

Together Wolverine and Kitty Pryde take on Red Hand ninjas with Daredevil and Elektra, stop a troll invasion with Thor and go on tour with Dazzler, who recently received a death threat in her private dressing room. Even though Wolverine is known to be very good at doing some very un-nice, he's like a grumpy uncle who always acts like he hates kids, but secretly is a softie to them. 

Peter David wrote the 3 stories collected from Wolverine: First Class. David is one of those writers who can write serious as well as lighthearted and both are equally great. Plus, Peter David puts the fun into everything he touches and from what I read, this book was capital F- U-N!

What about that Halloween story? It was a lot of fun too. When Power Pack came out in the 80s, I wasn't a big fan. I thought it was kinda dumb having kid superheroes. As I've gotten older, I have kinda grown to like them a little more. I see now how a group of 4 kids becoming heroes could expand the imagination of a fellow youngster to dream of becoming something fantastic. Plus, since the whole secret identity thing is out the window because Mom and dad both know, a lot of the implausibles that plague kid superheroes are eliminated.

The Halloween story is mostly a Power Pack adventure. One of the kids dresses up like Wolverine in hopes of winning the local costume contest. Getting separated from his siblings, the preteen Wolvie runs smack dab into Sabertooth while his family meets the real deal X-Man.

That story had great banter and was a perfect way to start off my October themed reads. As for Wolverine: First Class, I'm hooked. I want to know how many total issues were in the series and I want to add it to my wishlist. I kinda feel like I should give 2 ratings. One of the team-ups and and for the holiday special. Good thing both reads were flawless.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Agents of A.T.L.A.S. Vs. X-Men and the Avengers

A premier edition hardback collecting a pair of crossovers starring the Agents of A.T.L.A.S..

A little background information first- The Agents of ATLAS are a group of superheroes who first operated in the 1950s. (Originally, they were a Roy Thomas and Donald Glut concept floated around in the pages of What If... #9 (June, 1978). The group of heroes became official members of the Marvel universe after Marvel editor Mark Paniccia stumbled across the classic issue and inspired Jeff Parker to bring the group into the present day. 

After the events of the first Secret Invasion, the dastardly Norman Osborn negotiated his way into becoming the head of Earth's intelligence community. Not trusting the sometime Green Goblin, super spy Jimmy Woo took the place of the Chinese crime lord Yellow Claw's criminal underworld. With the help of the simian Gorilla Man, telepathic Marvel Boy, Atlantean Namora and the super-powerful robot M-11, Jimmy Woo keeps tabs on Osborn while transforming the criminal elements he's inherited into a force of good. 

X-Men Vs. Agents of ATLAS opens with teammate Venus being kidnapped by a centaur. With the X-Men having just fled their San Francisco area base, thanks to Osborn declaring the mutant enemies of humanity (once again), Woo hopes to borrow the X-Men's Cerebra device to find the missing agent. The unauthorized use of Cerebra sets off a warning alarm and the X-Men return to their abandoned base to investigate. 

In typical Marvel fashion, when the two teams meet, it's a battle royale. Nobody talks. They always start with fisticuffs. Only, there is a slight twist to this battle as members of both teams seem to have a history of fighting each other previously. Yet nobody can actually recall having done so before. 

Then in Avengers Vs. Atlas, the agents respond to a time anomaly in the heart of New York City. Jimmy Woo's team discovers Earth's Mightiest Heroes in the midst of an epic battle with a gigantic entity that seems to be about 1 second out of sync with time. Thanks to Wolverine being a member of the Avengers and having been in the previous story, Logan prevents a typical first meeting melee. That is until the temporal entity engulfs the modern day Avengers and replaces them with the original line-up! 

Now it's Jimmy Woo's Agents of ATLAS against Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Giant Man and the Wasp. And now the battle begins before a chance of introductions. Remember that the Hulk was one of the original Avengers? Hopefully, he won't show up, right?

I absolutely hated the X-Men story. It had too many characters. There was too much back story that one needed to know in order to enjoy the plot. And while I enjoyed the elements of the original X-Men and their first encounter of the Agents, things got really confusing. And honestly, it didn't feel like some of those feelings of deja vu ever truly got resolved. Plus, this story was a two-parter and it felt like writer Jeff Parker was trying to shove an extra large helping of stuffing into a medium sized turkey. And the opening segment was a giant sized Thanksgiving feast of disappointment. 

At least the artwork was exquisite. Carlo Pagulayan illustrated the modern story and his depictions especially of the female characters was alluring. The flashback segments were by Chris Samnee. Those segments evoked the nostalgic feel of the late, great Darwyn Cooke.

The Avengers story was a 4-parter. I loved the first 3 issues. I had a better understanding of the story. I'll admit that reading the X-Men crossover helped a lot with that. The element of time travel and having lots of surprises pop up was great. The ending was really meta. There's a lot of quantum physics involved. And while I understand that the characters got to point B from point A, I have no idea how the Avengers arrive at that point. And I read that segment at least thrice!

The Avengers tale almost salvaged this entire edition. I was just about ready to keep this book as part of my collection. Yet that complex ending was just way too over my head. I'd rather my limited shelf space be devoted to something else. So I'll trade this in hopes of purchasing some else more permanent for my collection.

Oh! And isn't that like the worst cover to a book that you've ever seen in your life? There were so many other great regular and variant covers used in these comics. Why did they choose that monstrosity from Humberto Ramos? It looks like they dislocated Cap's jaw or something!

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

Wolverine & The Black Cat: Claws

Man is supposed to be the most deadly game there is to hunt. If that's true, then what do you call it when the prey is no other than the mutant Wolverine? The X-Man finds himself on a deserted island and locked in a cage. It seems that Arcade, the wonder-kind behind such deadly projects as Murderworld, has arranged it so that a bunch of rich jerks can go on the hunt of a lifetime.

Added to the mix is Felicia Hardy- AKA The Black Cat. How she got mixed up in the mess is beyond her comprehension. And don't bother asking Wolverine about this. He doesn't even know who Felicia Hardy is. 

One is a gruff Canadian cigar chomping beer-swigging mutant. The other is a socialite thief with the ability to change a probability field to her odds and a taste for champagne. Despite the fact that Wolverine and Black Cat are one of the most unlikely pairs to ever team-up in the Marvel Universe, there's one thing linking the both of them: they're both mad as hell at this deadly situation and ready for payback! Oh! And they both have claws! Sharp claws ready to draw the first blood!

Jimmy Palmiotti (Harley Quinn/Gossamer Special) crafts a fun read full of action, adventure and mischief. Arcade is at his murderous best. Though, I really liked the inclusion of his girlfriend. There's a real Harley Quinn quality to her and they play off each other with such a banter of the likes of Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn or Hepburn and Cary Grant! 

(Oooh! Oooh! I just had a thought. Wouldn't a team-up of Arcade and The Riddler be rich?! I'd play good money for such!)

The artwork is by Joseph Michael Linsner (Red Sonja). His illustrations of the Black Cat and Arcade's gal pal are ultra sultry. But the way he's drawn Wolverine is kinda feral. But not like a wild animal. More like a furry kitten. I'm sorry but Felicia Hardy's face looks more deadly and dangerous than that of Logan's. At least Arcade and the murderous 'proud boys' look pretty dastardly.

Too bad that they never made a sequel to this Marvel Knights tale! WAITAMINUTE!!!! They made a sequel!?! That's immediately going on my wishlist!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #155

The stories starring Wolverine, War Machine and Vengeance come to an end in this issue. 

The War Machine story gets interesting as we learn just who is behind the stolen Stark tech that has wound up in the hands of several gangs of L.A.. 

Wolverine's story, which had been a laugh riot, ends on a more serious note. A little bit of a disappointment. But the previous 3 chapters were just great.

Vengeance's story ends just about how I expected it to. That's not a bad thing. Hopefully, we've not seen the end of fellow NYPD cop Rebecca Taylor. She's the yin to Michael Badilino's yang.

Our lone new segment is supposed to star the New Warriors. However, only one actually appears in the story: Namorita. Recently, the Atlantean had undergone a mutation that makes her look more like an aquatic creature than a human. Now going by the moniker Kymaera, she awakens in an oversized aquarium; the lab subject of a deranged geneticist who calls herself Mother Matrix. The scientist's plan: utilize Kymaera's genes to become the mother of a new race of super humans. 

The 3 tales that ended were all satisfactory. Though I do wish that the Wolverine adventure would have ended with those slapstick hi-jinks that had filled the first 3 chapters. 

With the New Warriors thing, I don't know what to think. If this is supposed to star the New Warriors like the cover promises, where are all the other New Warriors? Why wasn't Namorita or Kymaera listed instead? Maybe her teammates will pop up in the next issue like when each member of Excalibur were featured players in their own chapter from issues #31-38. 

We shall see next issue. So I will withhold full judgement on that story for now.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

Marvel Comics Presents #154

The Moon Knight story comes to a close in this issue. It was action-packed and had a really good mystery. However, I also felt that there was a huge plot hole. Supposedly, the head of a hate group is on trial for various crimes. In order to ensure that he gets a 'Not Guilty' verdict, his underlings have kidnapped the family of one of the jurors. But when Moon Knight goes to rescue the family, why is the gang leader at their domicile holding them hostage? Is he out on bail? Are there 2 gang leaders but only 1 is on trial? Just seems to me that part wasn't so very clear.

The Wolverine story is a lot like the beserker story from MCP #62-63; which is a direct sequel by the way. The goons are complete buffoons and there's great slapstick comedy banter all throughout. The only difference is the inclusion of the big boss, the mystic Arab Abdul Alhazred who is no-nonsense.

I really love the Vengeance story. The character seems to have finally found the missing parts needed to flesh things out, which is ironic considering Vengeance is a Ghost Rider. Plus, this story in which a bunch of wealthy New York jerks who hunt humans throughout the 5 Burroughs and a lady cop whose starting to put two and two together about Michael Badilino and Vegeance has been really entertaining. 

Lastly is the War Machine story which just continues to read like a bad educational film on the dangers of gangs. The plot is great. It just has lousy dialogue.

As one promising story comes to a close, questions arise about plot holes. Another is just victim to overly dramatic writing. But the two stories features, which I normally am not a big fan of, starring Wolverine and Vengeance, continue to knock my socks off. 

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #153

For an issue full of multi-parter middle chapter segments, this one's pretty good. 

The best of the bunch is the Vengeance story. It focuses more on Michael Badilino's life and career as a cop more than it does on the Spirit of Vengeance. Plus, the new character of Rebecca Taylor has been a delight. She adds that Lois Lane romantic foil/secret identity snoop factor that has been missing to just about any Ghost Rider story for quite some time.

Next up is the Moon Knight story. A major case involving the leader of a white supremacist terror group is now in deliberation. Moon Knight knows that one of the juror's families are being held hostage in order to insure a hung jury. Only, the hero doesn't know which jury member's home is being held captive.

The Wolverine story is my 3rd favorite story. Logan must keep his beserker side in check when some criminals from his past come back for revenge on him and lover Tyger Tiger.

The War Machine story at this point ranks in at last. It's not a terrible story. Just the dialogue is very corny like something you might encounter in an ABC After School Special. Rhodey is trying to confiscate stolen Stark Tech while trying to get some teen gang members to go straight.

I appreciate the efforts to help kids do right. But there's a real disconnect between how writer Len Kaminski (Iron Man) thinks early 1990s LA gang members talk and how a former air force veteran should relate to them. That being said- the artwork (by New Warriors' John Czop) and the overall plot, where War Machine decides to join one of the gangs to stop the violence and killing was superb!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #152

 

He's Back! 

After an absence of about a dozen issues, Wolverine is back as a featured character in the pages of MCP. Now I know that Wolvie was a part of the massive 150th anniversary spectacular that bled over into issue #151. But lets be honest here, Typhoid Mary was the star of those issues. 

With Logan's return, the mutant is back in Madripoor, trying to spend a quiet evening with Tyger Tiger. As you know, it's an official LAW in the Marvel Universe that such intimate moments must be ruined by something tragic, fantastic or involving interloping villains. In this case- it's baddies making it difficult for Wolverine to get his groove on.

In the other 3 segments, which are all opening chapters of multi-parters, War Machine travels to L.A. to stop a gang war which is being fought using stolen Stark tech. He hopes to teach the youth that violence isn't the answer. But in order to stop this turf war, Rhodey might have to join one of the gangs!

In the Big Apple, a group of thrill seekers are hunting the deadliest game: man. In their latest quest, it's undercover cop Rebecca Taylor. Michael Badilino happens to be an ever so slight acquaintance of Rebecca from his days as a cop. So this attack is personal. It's also a matter for the latest Spirit of Vengeance, Vengeance!

Also in New York, a trial involving some white supremacists is just about to head into jury deliberation. To make sure the verdict goes their way, the racists have abducted the family of one of the jurors. But which one? It's up to Moon Knight to find the family in time to prevent a miscarriage of justice. 

All 4 segments show great promise. To me, Moon Knight was the weakest of the bunch; if only because I'm just not a fan of the character like some are. The War Machine story has a fairly predictable plot for one starring a member of the Iron Man Family. Stolen Stark tech seems to be the basis of every other Iron Man related tale. (In case you are wondering techno-viruses comprise the other 50%.)

I was hoping for it to be the end of Wolverine in the pages of MCP. But I liked that his return story continues from another great Wolverine tale told a while back in the series. If you might remember, there was a very brief story where a head injury during a plane crash caused Logan's berserker side to take completely over. Those antagonists from that adventure are the ones who are back to cause more headaches for the mutant and his lover!

Lastly, I think Vengeance might finally be hitting his stride in this book. Apparently, focusing on Badilino's day job as a NYPD cop is the missing element to this character. Previously, Badilino was just coming across as a horrible impression of an 80s-90s vigilante action hero. But put him behind his badge, and something just gels with the character. I'm looking forward to see what happens next.

A nearly flawless issue!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #151

Typhoid Mary's return to Marvel Comics Presents was so massive, it had to spill over into a second issue. 

Mary is bent on revenge. Not just to any man who ever abused her but all creeps in general. After rescuing a young woman from a research facility similar to the one that tortured Mary, both heroes and villains are on the duo's trail. Wolverine wants to save Mary. Daredevil does too. Vengeance wants to exterminate Typhoid for her sins. And then there's Steel Raven.

Steel Raven is a brand new antagonist. Just introduced for the first time in issue #150, Steel Raven is a mercenary hired by the research team that Typhoid busted her little friend out of. This new character is a lot like Boba Fett in that money talks but there's also a strong moral code. With tresses like Silver Sable, a costume like Deadpool, and an arsenal to make Frank Castle blush, Steel Raven seems to be an amalgam of many characters. Thankfully, Ann Nocenti and Steve Lightle have done a fairly decent job keeping the character from being too one-note. However, her dialogue could use some work.

Another issue that has just 1 story, split into 4 chapters. Unlike the last issue where each chapter seemed to focus on 1 main character, this time around, the story feels more like a regular comic book caper. It's got a lot going for it. But that anthology essence is completely missing.

This story has a plot twist decades ahead of its time. Well for the cinema, this story probably got its inspiration from 1992's The Crying Game. But for a Comics Code Approved book, the big surprise reveal in this two-parter is a whole generation ahead of its time. 

Year 3000 stuff.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #150

When Wolverine and Typhoid Mary parted ways at the end of 'Typhoid's Kiss' in MCP #116, I suspected that their story wasn't over.

When the Danny Ketch Ghost Rider and Typhoid Mary said their goodbyes at the end of 'The Walking Wounded' in MCP #127, I was convinced that their story wasn't over. 

And now all I can say is- I WAS RIGHT!!! (kinda...)

In the extra special 150th issue of this bi-weekly anthology, Wolverine reunites with Mary Walker to save a young woman from a shadowy research facility. The experiments being done are eerily similar to the bio-science torture Mary underwent, and resulted in the unlocking of her Typhoid Mary psyche. 

Due to the special occasion, the story is divided into 4 chapters. Wolverine and Mary occupy the first couple of chapters. Vengeance stars in the third segment. Typhoid Mary arch foe and former paramour Daredevil rounds out the story in the last chapter. 

While Wolverine and Mary reunite, opportunities are missed with Michael Badilino replacing Danny Ketch as the Spirit of Vengeance in this story. I understand that at this point in Marvel publication history, Ketch is dead or at least trapped in some sort of limbo. But couldn't the editors or issue writers Ann Nocenti (Uncanny X-Men) and Steve Lightle (Daredevil) have said that this story took place before those events so we could have had Ketch and Walker met again? Would that have been such a big deal?

I've said frequently, that for this series to really work, it needs to be comprised of 4 different segments. But I also have no qualms with MCP mixing things up if A) it's done creatively and B) it still follows the spirit of utilizing 4 segments; or in this issue's case chapters. 

But man- a giant missed opportunity that prevents this from being the perfect Typhoid Mary reunion.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #142

As mentioned previously in another review, the 3 multi-part stories all come to a close in this issue. I was happy with the Wolverine story's ending and that adventure was enjoyable overall. Ghost Rider's action-packed romp through New York and Hong Kong was good. But it lacked substance. I might have actually done a back flip with the Spellbounder story coming to an end.

What really makes this issue stand apart is the introduction of a character named Alex Grimmond. MCP has seen several new characters make their debut in its pages. But this may be the first and only time that a main character made their first and only appearance in any Marvel publication. 

Grimmond wants to join the 1400 Club. It's an elite association of assassins. Only 1400 killers can be a member at a time and the only way to gain membership is to kill the head honcho, the British accented Foreigner. 

This was a really good tale if only for the twist ending that I didn't see coming. I would have loved a follow up story to this. However, upon checking the Marvel Wiki, as of press time of this review, there has never been another appearance of Grimmond in another comic book from the House of Ideas. 

A great ending to a couple of stories. Another tale was okay. And we're done with a multi-parter that was terrible from almost the very first panel. The thing that makes me the most excited about this issue is that issue #143 is a complete clean slate of 4 new story segments.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #141

Guess who's starring in the single issue feature, again. Yep. It's Iron Fist. I swear, with having Wolverine, Ghost Rider and Iron Fist in every issue, the original concept of MCP being an overall anthology series of the Marvel Universe is essentially dead. 

On the flip side of this, change is about to come as the 3 multi-part stories are all in their penultimate segment phase. 

Wolverine discovers an inter-dimensional portal. If he can close it up, he'd get rid of those pesky aliens and hopefully free a bunch of islanders from mental enslavement. 

The Spellbounder story has been anything but spellbinding. I read this story but I mostly am just going through the motions with it.

The Ghost Rider/Double Dragon- I mean the Masters of Silence team-up, is just about to face the big boss. 

You know, if this entire issue had been an 90s arcade game, I think I would have been all over it. A Street Fighter type game with Ghost Rider, Wolverine and Iron Fist. Epic. Since these type of games were quartets, I wonder who the fourth character would be... Luke Cage? Punisher? Hellcat? I'd love to visit the alternate earth in the multiverse where this video game idea is a reality...

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars. 

Marvel Comics Presents #140

Wolverine is now officially teamed with Doc Samson. Recently freed from his mental enslavement by extraterrestrials, Samson is working to free other humans from their torments. But can the good doctor really be trusted?

The Ghost Rider story that pits him with the Masters of Silence is still action-packed. But that now seems to be all of the story. It's like a Double Dragon video game now. Just continual fighting until you get to the big boss.

I'm just not a fan of that Spellbinder story. This is not because the character is a female. Not at all. It's because the story bounces from reality to induced fantasy; often without warning. And I swear this is just a grown-up version of Rainbow Brite. 

And for our one-and-done story, guess who's back! If you guessed Iron Fist, give yourself a cookie! I mean it's not like the Marvel Universe has other characters or anything. Unfortunately, I don't really remember anything about it either. 

This issue is like a ski slope. You start off on the highest high. But as you make your way through the book, you keep getting lower and lower. Only this time its lowering in quality, not height.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

X-Men Noir: Mark of Cain

The sequel to X-Men Noir has a much different tone. The story starts in jungles of Madripoor with the original '40s Angel, Wolverine, Cyclops and Puck seeking the legendary Eye of Cyttorak. In desperate need of cash, these survivors from the first miniseries take a job for a crime lord which results in a double cross! But when the boss winds up dead back in the States, there's a second chance to score some bread from this rotten deal. The only thing standing in their way- recently paroled Professor Charles Xavier and his newly formed Uncanny X Men!

This Marvel Noir entry had a little bit of everything. The first chapter was like if Indiana Jones was a mutant. Then there's a Hong Kong crime picture. Horror thriller. Mission Impossible type heist. And a wrap up with a Body Heat/Double Indemnity type mystery noir. 

While I did feel that the Mark of Cain was much better than the first X-Men Noir book, it wasn't perfect. At times, this book was a bit schizoid. That's not me trying to be poetic or something. That's a literal assessment.

One thing that I appreciated more with this series was the lack of the prose pulp that really caused the first volume to lag. I think those extra 2-3 pages were needed. This story definitely was action packed!

The behind the scenes stuff was a lot more in-depth this time around too. So many great images. And those variant covers- breathtaking!

The final image of this story sets things up for a third volume. That would round out a trilogy. Alas, that just doesn't seem likely. Mark of Cain debuted on shelves in 2009. I just don't see Marvel rounding things out any time soon. Marvel does get nostalgic and returns to it's theme storylines from time to time. Marvel2099 is making a return currently. Could Marvel Noir be awaiting in the wings? If so, I hope we find out what happened immediately after the curtains feel on this adventure.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #139

For the past two issues, Wolverine has had his tropical island vacation ruined by some pesky aliens, a navy blue gorilla and a seemingly possessed islander. In the past 16 pages of story, Wolverine has had this notion that he knows who the islander is. This chapter reveals that yes, Logan does know who that fella is- Hulk psychiatrist Doc Samson! Now we've got a Wolverine team-up!

The Ghost Rider/Masters of Silence story is a pretty good kung-fu caper. It has a lot of Bruce Lee movie type elements to it. 

I really don't know what to think about the Spellbounder story. The lead character at the point can't really tell what's real and what is illusion. In my bones, I also feel like this story steals a lot from Rainbow Brite. I don't know why. That's just the vibe I get. 

Our one-shot story stars that Captain America foil, Batroc the Leaper. When a bank is robbed by a diminutive goon with psychic powers and his gang, a desperate bank manager hires Batroc to recover the stolen cash. For a fee, of course!

The Batroc story was a laugh riot. Such a romp by Silver Surfer scribe Mike Lackey. The artwork is by someone referred to as Pedi. Whoever this person is, they're a complete unknown. The Marvel Wiki has nothing about this artist other than listing the work on this story. Not even a place of birth! Google searches just take me to pedicure artists. So if I had to describe the style, I would compare it to that of 'Mazing Man's Stephen DeStefano. It's vibrant. It's impressionistic. And it's kinda wacky. 

A good offering of segments. Though, I really think the Spellbounder tale has turned into something I'd expect from a girl-centric weekday cartoon series from the 80s. If the creators of it didn't steal some element from Rainbow Brite, I'll eat my hat.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #138

Readers are introduced to the character of Spellbounder in this issue. According to the Marvel Wiki, the character has been around since 1987. But other than a 6-issue miniseries (Spellbound), Spellbinder had never made an appearance in any other series until now. Not even a cameo. 

Right now all I know is that Erica Fortune became Spellbounder. She has telekinetic powers which are amplified by a pair of power bands that are of alien nature. In this opening chapter, the owner of those rings, the alien Zxaxz, has returned and wants them back. With this first chapter basically introducing me to all the main characters, the jury is still out on this one.

Wolverine is still on his tropical island holiday. One that is filled with aliens, a navy blue gorilla and a seemingly random slave to the extraterrestrials that Logan thinks he knows from somewhere. As things are still getting sorted out, the jury is still out on this one.

The samurai clad Masters of Silence have determined that Ghost Rider isn't such a bad egg. Yes, he's got some evil in him. He is fused with the demon of vengeance, ya know. But all parties have agreed to team up against the monster who has been killing native Chinese in an immigration smuggling scam for money. Things are starting to come together; however the jury is still out on this one.

The one-and-done story has Spider-Man trying to protect a hospital full of patients from an evil entity called Deathurge. As I've said before, I'm several months behind on the reviewing of these comics. I really can't recall anything about this story. So, I think the jury is out on this one- guilty of being a forgettable story!

A relatively tame issue in which all of the multi-parters are still trying to gain their footing. The single issue Spidey story was apparently not worth my time.

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #137

Has Iron Fist become MCP's unofficial third featured character? After two lengthy multi-parters in a row (for a total of about 27 straight issues), Danny Rand returns for a third story. Or is it a fourth straight? At least this one is a single issue tale. But still, what's with the fascination with Iron Fist in the pages of this book all of a sudden?

Poor Wolverine. He just can't have a simple vacation. After fleeing an island full of blood cultists in his last story, Logan tries to salvage his tropical holiday with a trip to an island infested with aliens! Oh. and don't forget the blue gorilla!

Ghost Rider's multi-issue adventure, he's run afoul of a trio of samurai-looking heroes called the Masters of Silence. Of course, these martial artists mistakenly believe that Ghost Rider is a demon. And technically, they're not wrong. These Masters of Silence, which are pretty talkative, just don't realize that Danny Ketch is working on the side of the angels.

Lastly, our fourth feature is another 8-page single issue story. It's got Scott Lang trying really hard to balance being a super-hero, the head of a security firm and a dad. This story read like it might have been the inspiration for 2015's Ant-Man film. Well, at least the domestic parts of the film with daughter Cassie.

The Iron Fist story was forgettable. But at least it was brief. Wolverine's segment might have some promise. I mean, it's got a navy blue primate in it for goodness sake. I like the Masters of Silence. They remind me of Marvel's very brief Shogun Warriors; albeit these guys are way shorter. And I just loved the Scott Lang story. I would have been totally fine with this one being spread out over 2 or 3 more issues.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #136

 

All 3 multi-part stories come to a close in this issue.

The Iron Fist/Daughter of the Dragon adventure finally sees some action. In the vein of Jackie Chan's Rumble in the Bronx, Marvel's resident kung-fu fighters take on the Yakuza and Sabretooth among the tenements of the Big Apple.

The Wolverine/Cyber story has two results. One unexpected- a death! One expected- Cyber double-crosses Logan with typical Marvel fisticuffs!

As for Ghost Rider and Luke Cage. We get all the poop on why Darklove betrayed Mephisto and decided to become a demon of love instead of hate. It's a pretty good ending to a story that was fairly ridiculous. 

The one-shot tale involves Daredevil. I'm a few weeks behind on reviewing that which I've read. But in the case of this story, I just can't recall anything about it. Truly a forgettable story starring the Man Without Fear.

A better offering of MCP. Maybe because 3 very long stories are coming to a close finally. But still not the best issue I've read. Not even close.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.