Mary Louise Eklund

Tag: Mystique

Comic Comments – One More Round

This is a stand alone that does nicely to wrap up some aspects of the last few story lines and open up some others I have a feeling are in the works. It’s issue 304, of Volume 4 or the revisit of Volume 2 or where ever we are in that.

First off with the credits. From the cover scan you see this time it took a larger than usual village, many artists contributing to the issue. Here’s the village: Jason Aaron, Writer; Steve Dillon, Ron Garney, Paul Pelletier with Dave Meikis, Mike Perkins, Jefte Palo, Daniel Acuña, Steven Sanders and Renato Guedes, Art; Matthew Wilson, Matt Milla, Rain Beredo, Andy Troy & Chris Sotomayor, Color Art; VC’S Cory Petit, Letterer; Dale Keown & Jason Keith, Cover; Jake Thomas, Assistant Editor; Jeanine Schaefer, Editor; Nick Lowe, Group Editor; Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief; Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer; Dan Buckley, Publisher; and Alan Fine, Executive Producer.

All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

The cover of this looks so familiar. I think this art has been on a cover before. It’s just one of the covers that strikes me as a cool Wolverine picture so put it on a transition issue. At least he’s bearing his teeth without doing an underbite.

The interior art goes from great to why does Sabes look like Hulk Hogan?

The story is one of Sabertooth throwing a party for all of Wolverine’s enemies. Since he now rules both crime families of the East (Hand and Yakuza) they actually show up. It’s fun to name the villain even those just in the background. It’s his birthday party and since he’s alive James turns the tables and crashes the party. He kicks Victor’s ass along with the guests to announce this is going to be his new annual tradition. Inter cut through this we get caught up the status of a few things. We see what is going on with Maverick, Melita, Hell, and much more.

It was a light issue that I’m sure will be a launching point for some stories. It made me smile that James turned a tradition on its head. For years we had Victor coming to beat up James on what they thought was his birthday. Now it is reversed. I enjoyed the issue. It was fun and got me thinking where would I take these stories next.

Next up is a four book arc, called Rot. That’ll be issues 305 through 308. It brings back a character I like very much that was previewed in this issue. Dr Rot was the villain from Insane In The Brain arc from Wolverine Weapon X volume 2.

After the jump the usual spoiler panel bits.

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August 5, 2012
Comic Comments: And Then There Was a War/Back In Japan

This story runs in Wolverine volume 4 Issues 20, 300-303. Okay I’m not sure it’s still volume 4 or did we revert back to volume 2 which would match what issue numbers we would have had volume 3 and 4 not occurred and the issue be numbered straight through. I’m leaving them in volume 4 just to keep chronological order straight for myself. WTF! Marvel this former volunteer librarian is upset in disruption of issue numbering.

The credits for this run are complicated. Issues 300-303 are done in chapters with changing artists. So stand back for a long credit appreciation list. Credits for the whole arc are: Jason Aaron, Writer; Jared K. Fletcher, Designer; Jody Leheup and Sebastian Girner, Assistant Editors, Jeanine Schaefer, Editor; Nick Lowe, Group Editor; Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief; Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer; Alan Fine, Executive Producer. The issue specific credits starting with Issue 20: Renato Guedes, Pencils and Cover Art; Jose Wilson Magalhaes, Inks, and Matthew Wilson, Colors. Issue 300 credits: Adam Kubert & Paul Mounts, Art for Chapters 1, 4, & 7; Steve Sanders & Sotocolors, Art for Chapters 3 & 6; VC’s Cory Petit, Letterer; no cover art credit listed in credits due to cover variants the one I have is the Adam Kubert cover. Issue 301 credits: Billy Tan & Jason Keith, Art for Chapters 8, 11, & 12; Steve Sanders & Sotocolor, Art for Chapters 9 & 10; VC’s Cory Petit, Letterer; Adam Kubert, Cover Art. Issue 302 credits: Billy Tan & Jason Keith, Art for Chapters 13, 15, & 16; Steve Sanders & Sotocolors, Art for Chapters 14 & 16; VC’s Cory Petit, Letterer; Arthur Adams, Cover Art. Issue 303 credits are: Billy Tan, Steven Sanders & Paco Diaz, Art; Mat Milla, Sotocolors, Jim Charalampidis and Rachelle Roasenbert, Color; VC’s Chris Eliopoulos, Letters, Brandon Peterson, Cover.

All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

WHEW! It took more than one village to make a comic this time! Apparently many wanted to help celebrate hitting the 300th issue since the start of Volume 2. Oh his whole solo title run it’d be the 304th issue. So let’s not get picky, let’s not go into who counts who’s volumes and issues. Still why go back to Volume 2? I dunno once again it’s left to the Secret Star Chamber of Marvel to know what the heck they were thinking.

Now for the cover art of the arc – to me the best is issue 301. I like the composition of it. I like that he’s in his Samauri mode, appropriate for an arc set in Japan. I think the colors are lovely. Over all it hits all the right notes with me. Thought cover 20 was close I don’t like the orangeish skin tones, could be bad printing and I’d love the original. The worst is issue 303. OMG! Those glowy outlines are back! (pounds head on desk takes comfort they aren’t in piss yellow). Ohhh and shiny shiny outfits that fit like a glove, ICK. The back ground looks off too, like a mix of photo and art – photo shop of horrors again? Finally cover that has the worst dental work – Issue 302 saw the need for some underbite action. Cover 300 which does nothing for me at all can at least bear teeth without an underbite.

The interior art is all over the board with so many contributors. Issue 20 is wonderful and I love the interior there. The rest vary from great to bad but luckily no awful stuff. After the jump I’ll chat about specifics.

The story made me lose heart for my hero. First off Sabertooth is no longer dead with his soul decapitated in hell. How long did that last? eh undid the soul part in just a hand full of issues. I’ve had decades of *singsongs* Sabes and Wolvie sitting in a tree f-i-g-h-t-i-n-g. I’m so over it. I liked it being settled and moving on. Can’t be though because I think Marvel fears letting a story line grow but instead cling to the tried and true plots until even the characters in the book mock them. I was pissed off to take three steps back to this tired overly done story again.

Speaking of that didn’t last long, Mystique’s death was even shorter. But we knew this was coming as the ‘magic’ Hand bought her corpse and dang they bring people back from the dead as often as they go get groceries. Dammit another tired worn out thing done again – just wait there will be a bit that includes a chase where James kills her in the end. This pissed me off too. When can we stop doing the same damn thing?

Seraph is still alive too. Guess it doesn’t matter we saw her bones in her coffin over in Wolverine Origins only part of that story became cannon – Daken. So mark this down as another back from the dead. It never stops!

Why do I feel I’m trapped in Groundhog Day? Where’s Bill Murray? Do I have to fall in love with Andi McDowell to get out of these over done plots? WHAT WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO MARVEL? Don’t know how to do it maybe take a gander at Fables they do it with style, grace, and character growth but keep a stable core of beloved characters. You could learn something there Marvel.

The core of the story I didn’t care about. It’s a crime family war in Japan. Except here some of the crime families have magic that bring back the dead and there are unlimited numbers of them. James teams up with his adopted daughter Amiko’s foster mom Yuriko to try to stop the war. Amiko’s boyfriend is the Silver Samurai’s son and moves in to claim his father’s position but winds up allying himself with the newly returned Sabes and Mystique. This leads to a fight between them and a break-up.

James and Yuriko eliminate the Hand in Japan. (how much you wanna bet this isn’t the end of them either?) We learn she’s alive after Hellverine’s attack but wheelchair bound. Doesn’t keep this ninja woman down or stop her from trying to get James’s pants down. Which leads to something that may destroy James and Mariko’s relationship. Which is yet another thing I find disappointing about the arc. The only thing cheery in it is Amiko, Yuriko, and James become a happy crime fighting family.

Overall I found this a very disappointing arc. Many of the things that enticed me to start buying Wolverine comics regularly again have been undone. I feel this is a disservice to long time fans. We love our characters we want to see them develop, we don’t want to keep doing the same things over and over again but this time only in San Francisco without flashbacks. I know I’m banging my head on the wall hoping for this type of deeply mature change but hope springs eternal.

Next is a stand alone issue entitled One More Round. There’s more spoilery bits and comments after the jump, join me won’t you. If not – Until next time.

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August 5, 2012
Comic Comments: Get Mystique Final Repose

This is a one issue story that links the Wolverine Versus The X-Men arc with the following five book Wolverine’s Revenge! arc.

The credits for the issue are as follows: Jason Aaron writer, Daniel Acuña artist, Jae Lee with June Chung cover art, VC’s Cory Petit Letterer, Jared K. Fletcher designer, Jody Leheup asst. editor, Jeanine Schaefer editor, Nick Lowe group editor, Axel Alonso editor in chief, Joe Quesada chief creative officer, Dan Buckley publisher, and Alan Fine executive producer.

All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

This title refers to the Get Mystique arc that appeared in Wolverine Volume 3 Issues 62-65. Basically it’s the same story as that arc. Logan is out to kill Raven after he almost died because of her helping someone. There’s a chase. This one is just in San Francisco the other was all over the world. The arc was interrupted by flashbacks showing Raven and Logan’s relationship through the decades. This one isn’t we just get to the chase and fights. I’d hoped this story would put an end to all of this but the zinger at the end hints not. Like all things Marvel we may again end up chasing our tail doing the same tired story line over and over except in San Francisco and without flashbacks.

I want to point out that Raven and Logan have always had an odd relationship. Her son is his BFF. She has a thing for him and they have sex occasionally. Either it’s spite sex or he doesn’t know it’s her or it’s House of M and he’s forgotten he dislikes her. Either way since Raven’s relationship with Irene (aka Destiny) ended she’s been trying to get in Logan’s pants. As I said she has succeeded a few times. In this issue he tells her he’s had enough of her. Has he had a enough that he’ll now kill his BFF’s mom since Kurt isn’t alive to see it?

As for the art, let’s start with the cover. Again lovely anatomy, great coloring, but Mystique’s face? I guess running from Wolverine gives you bags under your eyes. Overall I like it best from this cover team so far. Still it’s too romancy for me and what goes on in the book. Trust me he doesn’t want to be that nice when he gets close to her no matter what he holds behind his back. Then again when did the cover of a comic ever accurately portray the contents? Another pet peeve of mine, also have it with movie posters.

The interior art is better than the last arc. Both were by Daniel Acuña. I have to admit there are a lot more panels here I like. Some are really nice, really nice. I’ll highlight just a few after the jump. Not so many panels with characters looking like cutouts pasted into an incompatible background. Though unfortunately there are some in this book the number is greatly reduced. Some panels still have the odd piss yellow outlining though other times it has given over to other colors. I still don’t like it and stop reading to think “why the heck did they outline that in that color?!?” So it throws me out of the story.

In the end I consider this a light weight issue. Just a bit of fluff fighting between old enemies before Logan goes after those who wronged him. I didn’t care if he got her or not. I’d done all of this before over more issues. I just wanted him to get on with going after the Red Right Hand so we could learn more about them. In the end it was much-to-do about nothing and he’s off for his revenge.

Now I’m off to a few panels with comments. Didn’t have many in this issue I cared to say anything about one way or the other. There are two scans after the jump.

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July 31, 2012
Comic Comments – Wolverine Goes To Hell

This starts Volume 4 of the Wolverine comic. I’m not sure why they started a new volume with new number just until they got to what would be the 300th issue then went back to Volume 1 numbering but kept Volume 4 designation. They didn’t consult or explain this to me. Any way, the arc takes the first five issues of the volume.

Here’s the credits for the arc: Writer: Jason Aaron, Pencils: Renato Guedes, Inks: Jose Wilson Magalhaes, Colors: Matt Wilson, Covers: Jae Lee with Jun Chung, Letters: VC’s Cory Petit, Asst. Editor: Jody Leheup, Editor: Jeanine Schaefer, Group Editor: Axel Alonso, Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada, Publisher: Dan Buckley, Exec. Producer: Alan Fine.

A bit of the legal disclaimer – All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique.

Let’s start with the art. The covers are pretty but honestly they don’t do it for me. There’s something about the faces I don’t like, covers 3 and 5 especially. Also the hair doesn’t do it for me either. Yet I appreciate the anatomy and colors of the pieces. Over all I can say they are great art. Yet I still have to say they aren’t to my liking either. I appreciate the talent but don’t enjoy the image as a fan.

As for the interior art. I like it. I’d rate it as some of the best. It’s not cracked into ‘OMG this is awesome’ but unlike the first issues of Wolverine and the X-Men I don’t cringe and force myself to read the comic either. I enjoyed this art, it did what comic book art does – support and tell the story. It did distract with unpleasant art or unique art techniques. It supported and made itself part of the story telling experience which is what I’m looking for when I pick up a comic.

I have to admit when I learned about the basic premise of this arc I wasn’t thrilled. I was left very cold. I don’t like aliens, magic, supernatural stuff in my X-Men. I love it in my Dresden Files, Fables, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Star Trek, Star Wars, etc. but I don’t like it in my X-Men. Often I reimagine it to a more mundane explanation – they aren’t aliens they are other mutants, it’s not magic it’s a mutation, etc. Nothing wrong with making a story to my liking. Given that take I went into this arc reluctantly.

The basic concept is an unknown group has spiritually kidnapped Logan’s soul sending it literally to Hell. Since his body is vacant it is taken over by demons from the pit. In the tradition of the Enemy of State arc. Yeah basicly the same plot premise rewarmed with demons and a shadowy group in control instead of HYDRA and The Hand, or Weapon X, or his beserker rage, or what ever mind/body control flavor of the month. Been there done that got so many t-shirts I don’t want one that says “Possessed Wolverine Attacked Friends.” I was so bored with this part of the story I found myself flipping forward to the scenes back in Hell. I’d seen this type of story too much to care about what happened.

While he’s in Hell Logan must face his past. Yes like so many arcs where we see inside his head while he’s healing from being almost dead. Except this time he’s not in his head he’s in Hell. Again I declined the t-shirt as we visited an overused plot device.

I have to say that after reading the arc I came out with mixed feelings. Thinking about it I told Aaron what I thought and he summed it up best “bad premise good execution.” Yeah, not something you see often really. However I’m reading the arc with the knowledge of how it plays out many issues later. This is a growth for the character of Logan, something he’s been needing for some time. He’s been treading water in regrets and pining for Mariko for years. It’s also been years that he’s had his memories. He need to put to rest his daddy issues of Thomas Logan, biological father, versus John Howlett, father figure that raised him. All these agonies were moving at first but like the friend that won’t get over being dumped eventually you want to shout at him “DEAL WITH IT ALREADY.” This arc provides the answers for Logan to those things very well. He literally faces and defeats his demons. A very heavy handed way of turning a metaphor literal. That’s another thing I don’t like about it. I like finesse in writing but I admit it’s done effectively.

Let’s face it Logan’s 130 years old. It’s about time he grew up and dealt. He’s in a stable relationship with a good woman. Melita fights for him in this arc. He’s got a good moral compass and he has more experience that any other mutant on his various teams. So it stands to reason this well trained warrior take on leadership despite being some what of a lone wolf in aspects of his personality. What endears him to me is that he is the romantic that despite this hard life he has he still aspires to love, to goodness, to right winning even if that doesn’t mean he gets those things. He’s willing to make the most noble sacrifices of all, self sacrifice. He’ll do anything for a friend and that is what’s used as a turning point in this story. Which is what sells it to me. That and the fact that to reach all of Logan you gotta beat the answer into him, and trust me the Devil is the one to do that. He’ll enjoy beating bitter lessons into a reluctant hero.

The final selling point for me was I knew going into reading this arc that what happened here and followed made major life changes for James Howlett. I hope we don’t ever have to endure another possession arc (Yeah I know Dr. Rott is out there and in the current arc) or another confronting demons in alternate reality (be it in his head or in Hell). That is what would make this arc more powerful. It ended all that and opened a new era for the character. Did it? Well only time will tell.

Now for the fun part – individual pages or panels from the issues with my comments. WARNING THESE ARE SPOILERY

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July 27, 2012