The List #39

Morning Glories #2
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Joe Eisma
Considering how quickly the first two issues keep selling out and my eternal reverence for Nick Spencer after Forgetless, I feel pressured to like this book more than I actually do. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book, but so far I don't see what makes it so amazing.

I'm also not sure how to take this book. I assumed it would start out with introductions to the characters as the string of weird, ominous occurences weaved themselves into the story. Instead, the school has been obnoxiously upfront about how they're up to something. This issue we've got Casey's parents killed because they wouldn't cooperate with the school, attempted stabbing, cults, and near-drowning of the students just so Casey would answer a pop quiz question. While I see why Spencer would avoid the traditional, build-it-up route, I feel like the story suffers because of it.

These life-or-death, tense situations these characters have been through already don't affect me as much as the should because I don't really care about any of these characters yet. I also have to reiterate that Spencer's comparison of this series to Runaways makes me think that this series' is also having a rough start just to get the basics out of the way before smooth storytelling can happen. In the end, I'm not sure how to feel about this series besides it's good, I'm just not sure where it's going.

New Mutants #17
Writer: Zeb Wells
Artist: Leonard Kirk
So far I'm really not feeling this Magik-centered arc. First off, I'm really sick of this ongoing story of restoring Magik to her former self as well as visit Limbo every two minutes for barely minimal development just so that no one can deem the entire mini-series/arc completely useless. This has lasted way too long, and really just needs to go away now. Magik's not cool or interesting enough to hold up so many arcs/mini-series and this is made even worse by the fact that it's not even Magik, it's 'Darkchylde'. A summarized version of my response to this drawn out Magik story is perfectly encapsulated in [this].

On the other hand, [this] conversation found in the previews is classic prelude to a drunken makeout. Seriously, I've had this conversation, everyone I know has had that conversation, and I even saw it happen this weekend. Oh the joys of watching people trying to come up with an excuse to kiss each other. Anyway, Wells did this part....well (heh) but in the end I have to say this current arc should be avoided.

Thunderbolts #148
Writer: Jeff Parker
Artist: Declan Shalvey
My thoughts on Thunderbolts are a bit funny. When I think of it after not reading it for awhile I tend to regard it as mediocre, but as soon as I read another issue I remember that it's actually a good book. I think the problem is that this book doesn't really wow me at any point, it's just this continuous serving of good with no real variation.

This issue there's a new artist on board who's an improvement over Kev Walker, but still similar enough so that the change isn't jarring. The scene with the Thunderbolts dealing with the normal prisoners was definitely one of interest, but besides that it was sort of a standard issue. I'd say if you have some pocket change to spare, pick this book up, but otherwise, this book is pretty forgettable.



X-Factor #209
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Emanuela Lupacchino
This series is the only one this week that really got me excited to know more as well as gave me something comment on (for better or for worse).

The Rahne/Rictor drama, despite my loathing of Rahne, is really what is keeping this book exciting as it was moved along minimally this time around so that the reverbations of what's going on can be fully felt. This issue, Jamie went up to see Rahne and it was revealed that he knows about her involvement with X-Force. There was also a questioning moment where everyone wondered if one of Jamie's dupes got Rahne pregnant. Even though I wish Rahne dead, her presence brings back a familiarity of the X-Factor book when it was really fun and remarkable.

The events of the Hela story are less than interesting, but we did finally see Longshot do something this issue and he was even somewhat likable then. The two most notable things this issue are notable for two completely differents reasons and they are:

[This] comment made by Guido is the last straw with me. Previously, I've thought of Guido as a somewhat likable, but ultimately superfluous character that David keeps around because Guido's someone developed specifically under his hand. Now I'm just so sick of Strong Guy's what seems to be feigned 'tolerance' ('tolerant' attitudes already being an issue with me) as he makes these homophobic comments. Especially since I've heard all these comments before, they're intended to seem like 'jokes' so that partially serious feelings can be vented and no one can call them out on it as it's supposed to be a 'joke'. No, seriously, this bro-y version of homophobia needs to stop because it wasn't funny the first few times, but now this latest comment really takes the shitcake. I am not amused.

On a lighter note, Shatterstar's need to fight everyone he sees this issue seems to be evidence that he's bothered by Rictor's baby daddy issues. Which is good considering my previous thoughts on how he didn't seem committed to the relationship. In the end, I want to see these two together, and so I find this a positive development as the main concern I had for 'Star's wanting to fuck around was that he wasn't as invested in the relationship as Rictor was.

Conclusion: X-Factor really is much-improved to the point where I'd say it's back to the quality it was at around the 'Isolationist' arc which is something we haven't seen in awhile. While it is indeed a bit overdramatic with the soap opera of Ric/Rahne, it's still an addicting storyline. Definitely pick up X-Factor as it is the best book released this week.

X-Factor #200 Review

X-Factor #200
Writer: Peter David
Artists: Bing Cansino with Marco Santucci
Warning: This month's issue is $5. But before you get so mad that you shit, just realize it's well worth the price. First, you get the story, which I believe goes beyond the normal 22 pages of story and feels much more fresh than X-Factor has been lately, then a backup Siryn story with Reverend Madrox (which is crap until the end, whatever), Bios on the entire team, and lastly but most importantly, Madrox #1. Which is done by Raimondi, my long lost artist love. So spending $5 on this, I think, is totally reasonable and I overall recommend picking this book up this month. Just be warned it takes forever to fucking read because of how much is in it, but I suppose that's a plus if you're only reading for enjoyment.

All right, the story is focused around the Invisible Woman vanishing. Don't call that irony though because the surprisingly bearable and maybe even likable member of the Fantastic Four, Valeria Richards will correct your ass:

I'd find it funnier if I didn't still screw up defining irony.

Also, I have to appreciate that while Valeria is characterized to be similar to Layla, you can tell that there definite differences between Layla and Valeria that can be easily picked out. Such as, Layla was more intuition and what she already knew while Valeria is more analytical and calculating. I have to say that it's the mark of great writer to write two very similar characters to be similar, but not identical.

I have to warn everyone of one thing: I hate the Fantastic Four. I barely have extremely general knowledge, I've seen them here and there (and too much in the FF vs. X-Men or whatever thing back in the 80's). I hate Franklin Richards most of all, for that blasted mini-series I just mentioned. I hate Sue Storm for her dumb housewife routine that she does a lot, especially when she left Reed in Civil War. I think they're horrible remnants of the 50's and need to go die in an overhyped crossover.

This issue is way too long for me to go through part by part and there's also very little to comment on, but I will say that Reed Richards is once again a irritating sketchy guy, Strong Guy's new look is terrible, The Thing and Strong Guy have the world's most pointless fight that just served to bore me because they ended up arguing over sports while fighting. Sports being a subject that puts me to sleep faster than discussions between musicians about music. Which is pretty bad because as soon as a musician even utters the word rhythm, I've tuned out. In other news, we had a caption malfunction:

That or Jamie could be in disguise as Shatterstar.
OR Reed could believe that Shatterstar is actually Jamie.
The possibilities are endless.

Overall, the story gets good with the Monet deal and we see Val Cooper again, who I like. David's humor is back in fighting form which is a relief because since #41 it had been mostly weak. Well. That damned Gladiator reference was weak in my opinion.

The next part of the story is about Siryn. Who, we find out, is depressed and not acting like herself. And slept with Deadpool again. The biggest way we can see that she's depressed is her oversized ugly sweater. Because nothing says depression better than the loss of all your good sense, especially fashion sense. In Siryn's little story, she encounters Rev. Madrox and they talk about why God let these things happen to her. I find Siryn's explaining how other priests have been no help (with accompanying flashback to the bullshit answers typical of a lot of religious people) to be pretty amusing. This story touches close to a message of Atheism, but instead it goes more to a philosophical 'What if?' discussion. OH and there's a discussion about Banshee's codename (which Siryn ends up taking on; which I find sad because I love the codename Siryn):

I wondered the same thing once I researched a bit about Banshees.

Afterwards we get the bios which I haven't even bothered to read yet, and lastly, there's Madrox #1 which is the most charming deal of this issue. Mainly because of Pablo Raimondi, who I've brought up as one of my artist loves. Honestly, I can't help it, I love his style and also how fucking sexy he makes all the male characters look. I swear he could make Strong Guy seem appealing. Seriously, take a moment and worship that undeniable sexiness--->

This issue definitely makes you wonder what X-Factor could have been had mutants stayed powered, and it just contributes to me feeling like the Decimation has been one of the most pointless and pointlessly drawn out ideas. I seriously think X-Factor may have had an easier time had Decimation not happened.

And on a final note, I have to say I found punkass Rahne with long hair and earrings and attitude to be much more likable than the standard version. Who I almost always dislike.