I’ve been a little lax with my X-Reading, only taking in a few X-Factor titles.  I needed a break after Second Coming, some time to cool down and deal with what occured.

But when I saw a Bachalo book, I had to read it straight away.  Regular readers will know that the only thing that makes me geek out more than a Campbell cover is a Bachalo penciled book.  So I picked this one up and dove right in.

As expected, the art is sumptuous with magnificent detail contrasted against the simple and effective way that Bachalo draws our well known hero’s faces.  Gambit comes off a bit gangly but otherwise everything is on song; the action is highly gratifying and when Bachalo does his own colors it looks magnificent.

As for the writing, the dialogue is wonderful, Emma Frost is amped up on bitchiness, Cyclops is his usual self and Gambit, while being a bit whiney hits all the usual marks.  My issue is with the premise itself.  Apparently the new story arc has gone all Team Edward and is about vampires.  Not just generic bloodsuckers, but now there’s the addition of Marvel continuity vamps including Blade.  I can handle that.

Dracula?  Nuh-uh.  That doesn’t fit anywhere.  Well obviously Chuck Kim will disagree with me on this one but I think it’s a cop-out to incorporate such a canonical fictitious character within this arc.  However I am unaware at this time as to the other writing staff involved.  This may have been a “made to order” kind of situation.

Storm & Gambit gives us some cheesecake mutant action vs bloodsuckers.  I guess it was only a matter of time until Marvel went all Twilight.  What next, Werewolves?  Oh right, Wolfsbane.. Sod. -Bretzke

Shadowland #2

There are two arguments to be made here.  The first revolves around the badassery of Daredevil.  He just killed Bullseye (and there’s an associated issue covering the fallout from that; tune in tomorrow!), that is definitely an act that rates highly on any metric.  On the other side, Daredevil seems to have become a touch unhinged…

Is this a case of absolute power corrupts absolutely?  The seeds for this were laid in Shadowland #1: Matt Murdoch has declared marshal law in Hell’s Kitchen.  More importantly its his martial law, an important distinction.  This is ruffling the feathers of friend and foe alike.

The story trundles along nicely until at a certain point actions speak louder than words.  It is certainly a memorable exchange though I barter you will find yourself torn as to where to stand in this particular argument.  The art is fitting for the story being told but deep down I wanted something grittier, I wanted Frank Miller back on this book.  I know it’s a case of “if wishes were fishes” but this is the treatment the book deserved.  Grit and grime to suit the crime.

This art just doesn’t deliver the same punch.  Highly recommended otherwise. -Bretzke

Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Black Cat #2

There is an intrinsic likability to Black Cat; sure she does bad things and is by most measures, even metric, a criminal.  But there’s that part inside all of us that really wants her to come out on top.  Surely the guys she’s burgling deserve it in some way.  Perhaps we can look at Black Cat as a form of Marvel Universe Karma.

With only the barest sense of the webbed wonder, it’s an all family affair for Cat, in that her mother has been taken to ensure that she does the job that our mysterious shadowy (and somewhat generic) bad guy seeks done.  Our heroine is smarter than all that though and brings the team in to get the job done.

There has been a lot of thought put into how this book works, and work it does, at least when it comes to the writing.  The sequences involving theft are well crafted, leaving even the most jaded observer wondering how it is going to get done.  This is no simple smash and grab, this is done using finesse!  The lack of capitalisation is deliberate Avengers Academy fans.

So while the writing positively sparkles, the artwork verges on Russian in it’s functionality.  Allow me to explain.  When the Soviet Union would make a tank, it was made so it would do everything a tank would do, but could salvage parts from any other large machine.  In essence, it was functional to the point of ugly.  That’s what the art is here, all rivets and exposed springs, without the usual level of finish we’re used to anticipating with a title of this magnitude.

While this quibble does not detract from the overall experience, it does leave one wondering why Black Cat didn’t get the glossy treatment of some other stand-alone books.  After all, she’s a force of Karma, right? -Bretzke

Shadowland #1

It’s easy in comics to observe pages and arcs of stories unfold with endless dramatic conclusions, only to have it all reset to a baseline norm for the continuity in question, rendering the entire ‘event’ null.  This can leave a reader jaded and skeptical.  This leads to grander and more dramatic events, with the same result.  An arms race develops between titles to have grander spectacles, only with equally grand resets.  To Brand New Day it, as it were.

Shadowland could be one of these things, but I hope so dearly it isn’t.  Matt Murdock is back from Japan and he’s guarding his people like Cerberus in front of Hades; Hell’s Kitchen hasn’t had it this good before, but some are worried that this is the tipping point to totalitarianism.  Regular peasantry this is not, the worried party in question is The Avengers.  Intentional capitalization.

To assess the level of discontent within Daredevil, Luke Cage and Iron Fist are dispatched to investigate.

Upon their arrival, the climax to the book, a certain ne’er-do-well gets what can only be called the epic treatment.  Upon gazing at this page, one should remember so much from a single image.  Do you need a reminder?  Try here.

I think it’s safe to assume Shadowland is the real thing.  A line has been crossed.  We can’t go back. -Bretzke

Spider-Man Presents: The Black Cat #1

Black Cat exists as a kind of Robin Hood within the Marvel Universe, without the altruism.  Her powers are minor but she has been playing a major role in the life of one Spider-Man.  Not Peter Parker mind you, this is a strictly costumes-on affair.  Not like that!  Sheesh…

The title progresses from some fairly light (read trivial) beginnings down to the meat of it.  As this is a “Spider-Man presents…” story, it’s keenly embedded within the current “Gauntlet” storyline.  It’s important to note that this is a story which has been developing now for several months.  What we see of the Spider demonstrates this through his actions and demeanor: Spidey is on the edge.  But back to our darkest of cats.

Black Cat becomes framed in a series of high profile burglaries.  Everyone around her believes she is the culprit and so, in true comic fashion, she seeks to clear her name through going to the next likely target to intercept her impostor.  Now, take a step back and think.  If you were being framed for something, would you go to the place of the next likely framing, or somewhere completely different?  See, we both pick different.  Not Cat mind.. No no, common sense apparently isn’t one of her powers.

The inevitable occurs and at the end we learn who a likely perpetrator is for these shenanigans.  But let’s get on with it, is this a book for you?  If you’ve enjoyed the interactions with Black Cat and Spider-Man in Amazing of late, then likely you’ll get a kick out of this.  If you’ve read all this and are still wondering who Black Cat is, even with the aid of the picture not 20 lines above this, then no.  Granted however I would wonder how you got this far down.

Spider-Man Presents: Black Cat is a book for the fan of the franchise and little more.  The continuity requisite to understand all that’s going on is quite a mound indeed.  The cover is pretty and the story within enjoyable, but it’s much like a Kubrick film: Unless you get it, you’re not getting it at all. -Bretzke

I do love a redundant byline.

Things are starting to make sense in this issue, Pixie is placed under the influence of some magical pixie dust (Literal, not metaphorical) making her somewhat unbearable.  There is tension here, but the sickly kind like waiting for a needle; you know it’s coming, why delay? -Bretzke

X-Men: Pixie Strikes Back #2

What..?  Really..?  No idea what just happened.  Like a psychedelic explosion of X-stuff that somehow occurs in the cafeteria of a school populated with metahumans.  Something was said.. maybe?  Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the story in this issue is urged to contact… me. -Bretzke

X-Men: Pixie Strikes Back #1

Looks like Stephen has inherited himself an apprentice and she’s both intelligent and determined; a dangerous combination should you be trying to hide.  Of course this young lady is unsure of what she is seeking, or who is also walking her path.  We remember of curiosity and cats, yes?  Its good to see Marvel exploring the more mystical side of their universe with Stephen Strange and Brother Voodoo getting greater exposure, but where can this ultimately lead? -Bretzke

Strange #2

Comic about magic – necessary elements: Rogue outsider (check), Attractive yet aloof female (check), demonic plot involving a convoluted storyline where the finale is to happen on this very day (check). What’s not to enjoy? Only upon reading do you realize the utter cheese that is the byline. Reader discretion advised, may contain crappy baseball references. -Bretzke

Strange #1

When you read X-Men, it comes in one of two forms; whiney people whining, or kick-ass combat. Thankfully this is the latter. The visuals are pleasing and dense without becomming confused. Certainly this isn’t world ending stuff, if anything it would have been nice to have more pages dedicated to the fisticuffs, but what you get satisfies. However the ending is, to say the least, weak. Aren’t we past this ploy yet? Apparently not. -Bretzke

Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men Exodus, Utopia Conclusion