Tag: Emma Frost

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #284 (1992)

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #284 (1992)

carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1990s to explore one of the many tales of the Marvel shared universe through the Uncanny X-Men series.

As of this writing, I really enjoyed reading the tales about the Gold Team of the X-Men under the co-writing of Whilce Portacio and John Byrne (click here, here and here). Following Bishop’s debut in issue , issue featured his intense first-ever encounter with the X-Men while concluding the mutants mission (retrieving Jean Grey).

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men , published in 1992 by Marvel Comics with a story co-written by Whilce Portacio and by John Byrne (script). The art was done by Portacio with ink work by Art Thibert, Scott Williams and Karl Altstaetter.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins at the Sakhali islands located off the coast of Siberian Russia and separated from Hokkaido of Japan. Previously a territory of China and explored by the Japanese, the island is now bustling with unusual activity as government officials and personnel of both Russia and Japan focus on a massive, sealed crater there. After meeting with the Russians and his fellow Japanese on location, the mutant Sunfire (Shiro Yoshida) proceeds to do a task with his immense power on the crater. The scientists quickly detect intense readings that went off the scale and it seems the void of the crater is responding to Sunfire’s assault. The void adapted its own frequencies with Sunfire’s and returns fire at him. The void then begins to change.

Elsewhere, the X-Men’s Gold Team are spending quality time together on board their supersonic blackbird heading home. Jean Grey, who previously occupied Emma Frost’s body temporarily, is back as herself and interacting with her teammates. With them is the unconscious body of Emma Frost (White Queen). Professor X and his mutants are uncertain as to what happened to Emma Frost’s mind and Bobby Drake (Iceman) speculates that she could have transferred her psyche into some unsuspecting victim (note: the party at the Hellfire Club’s headquarters in issue was filled with hundreds of people).

Having heard Iceman’s opinion, Professor X decides to scan Emma Frost for the last dim echo of her personality. He tells Jean Grey to join him to scan Frost. Suddenly, the X-Men receive a distress call from the Sakhalin islands…

Quality

After Sunfire got hit, a new batch of enemies emerged from the void.

Following the intense and enduring events of issues until , this comic book’s concept had Charles Xavier and the Gold Team get busy yet again due to an emergency at the Sakhalin islands. This opened the opportunity for Portacio and Byrne to introduce a new conflict at the said islands (which turns into a war zone), a new force of opposition for the X-Men and giving the Japanese mutant Sunfire a share of the spotlight in X-Men comics.

At the heart of the conflict is the crater and void at the mentioned islands which brought out a strong element of mystery slowly backed up with intriguing revelations. The new force of opposition are armored, human-like beings (whose heads, hair and masks easily remind me of the Predator design of Stan Winston in the movies) who are armed, dangerous and determined to achieve their goals no matter how difficult. What is intriguing is how the new beings (referred to as aliens) remain concerned and caring with each other even during the intense moments of their encounter with the X-Men.

The climax of the conflict here is a must-see. You just have to get a copy of this comic book to find out.

When it comes to the visuals, Portacio continues to deliver solid artworks which showcased intense scenes, scenic shots, dynamic superhero action and subtle moments of drama (especially when the X-Men are together and in comfort). As there were three guys who inked Portacio’s work, there is a noticeable inconsistency with the visuals as the story went on.

Conclusion

Following their recent encounters with Bishop and Trevor Fitzroy, the X-Men still have the unconscious body of Emma Frost with them.

While some readers might find the X-Men Gold Team’s involvement in the conflict rushed, Uncanny X-Men (1992) remains an enjoyable read. As the situation is very new, the stakes are different here and for the most part, this comic book is a build-up of a new concept that just happened to be filled with a lot of action scenes. Portacio and Byrne delivered a fun-filled read with a good amount of intrigue and some surprises as they introduced a new force opposite the X-Men. And for the people are who are fond of Bishop, he and his companions are here but not with the X-Men.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men (1992) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #283 (1991)

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #283 (1991)

carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1991 to explore one of the many tales of the Marvel shared universe through the Uncanny X-Men series.

Uncanny X-Men #282 marked the continuing conflict between the X-Men and Trevor Fitzroy’s group, and the arrival of one of the most notable additions to Marvel’s Mutants…Bishop. To be clear, Bishop was not alone when arrived from the future through one of Fitzroy’s portals. In relation to everything that happened in the comic book, the arrival was a very powerful conclusion to read.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men , published in 1991 by Marvel Comics with a story co-written by Whilce Portacio and by John Byrne (script). The art was done by Portacio with ink work by Art Thibert.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins in the arctic lair of Trevor Fitzroy. The arrival of Bishop and his two mutant companions – Malcolm and Randall – from the future caught everyone by surprise (including the X-Men). Bishop, who has Trevor Fitzroy subdued, tells his companions to throw their takes (members of Fitzroy’s force) into the portal.

Bishop intends to have Fitzroy go first which draws a loud reaction from the mutant madman. Fitzroy, who had been using the life force of captive mutants to open portals, knows exactly what would happen if he goes first. His exchange of words with Bishop shows they have a history together.

When Bishop’s companion moved a subdued person into the portal, it tore him apart. Fitzroy reveals to Bishop that the portals he created only function one-way and he tells him that he and his companions are stuck in the 20th century.

In response, Bishop assumes complete judicial authority and tells Malcolm and Randall to standby for termination sweep. The X-Men begin to react…

Quality

Professors takes a huge risk to help Jean Grey who recently occupied the body of Emma Frost.

When it comes to the creativity, this comic book is both a strong pay-off to the build-up of issues and while also serving as a new build-up focusing on Bishop’s arrival. At the heart of this tale is Bishop’s first-ever personal encounter with the X-Men which instantly expanded the lore of Marvel’s mutants a lot.

Bishop is a mutant from one possible future (of the Marvel Comics shared universe) in which Storm, Iceman, Archangel, Charles Xavier and others are remembered as legacy figures of the X-Men. In this comic book, you will see there is a good amount of depth with the way Bishop is dramatized and with many notable details on the dialogue prepared for him. Co-created by Whilce Portacio and John Byrne, Bishop is really an inspired work and clearly is not a mere addition. There is Filipino inspiration behind the creation of Bishop (click here and here) with some elements of John Ford and Prince mixed in (click here).

As far as the storytelling is concerned, there is notable shift of tone here as Bishop, Malcolm and Randall received much of the spotlight and yet there was still some room left for focus on the X-Men and Fitzroy’s group respectively. What makes this comic book an intriguing read is the first-ever personal encounters between Bishop and the X-Men which involved the temporary blurring of the boundary between good and evil. The interactions between Storm and Bishop are easily the most dramatic to see, and you will witness how their respective toughness (plus leadership) collide intensively.

Along the way, there is a lot superhero action to enjoy here. In fact, there are many forms action that served as extensions or pay-offs to the exchange of words between Bishop and a few specific X-Men members. Even a non-action scene like Professor X helping Jean Grey (who was in Emma Frost’s body temporarily) resulted in some visual spectacle.

Conclusion

Bishop’s first-ever encounter with the X-Men not only challenged his perception but also brought out traits of his attitude.

Uncanny X-Men (1991) is another very compelling, intriguing and entertaining read from the Portacio-Byrne duo. The X-Men lore has been expanded more and Bishop’s first encounter with the X-Men is easily the most engaging aspect of the story. At the same time, the conflict between the X-Men’s Gold Team and Trevor Fitzroy took a twist that really turned the plot to an unexpected new direction which is not surprising as Bishop’s presence made a huge impact (even on Storm herself). This is one of the best superhero stories of 1991 I have read so far.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men (1991) is highly recommended!

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #282 (1991)

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #282 (1991)

carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1991 to explore one of the many tales of the Marvel shared universe through the Uncanny X-Men series.

Uncanny X-Men was a great read. For most of the early 1990s, I read more X-Men stories about the Blue Team than the Gold Team. In Uncanny X-Men – which took place after X-Men #5 – the spotlight was on the Gold Team which showed the strategic leadership of Storm, the X-Men revisiting the headquarters of the Hellfire Club, Jean Grey’s own recollections of past events and the new threat of Trevor Fitzroy and the Sentinels.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men , published in 1991 by Marvel Comics with a story co-written by Whilce Portacio and by John Byrne (script). The art was done by Portacio with ink work by Art Thibert.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins inside the School For Gifted Youngsters when the Gold Team arrives (with Colossus carrying the inactive body of Jean Grey) and disrupts the chess game between Professor X and Forge. Charles Xavier mentally examines Jean and notices that her psyche survives and has been displaced. He realizes Jean is alive but not in her body.

In New York City, Trevor Fitzroy (who is carrying the body of an inactive Emma Frost) and his Sentinels surprise Shinobi Shaw showing what is left of the cyborg of Pierce. Trevor boasted to Shinobi that he won claiming that he has terminated one of the founders of the inner circle, captured a small band of Hellions and has Emma Frost as a trophy. Very slowly, Jean Grey – now occupying Frost’s body – wakes up…

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Trevor Fitzroy does not know who is inside Emma Frost’s body.

I can say out loud that this is a great follow-up to the previous issue (which itself is a great read) as it has a lot of hefty payoffs to the build-up from before. With the story concept already established in issue , the progression continued strongly, the narrative is clearer and the stakes were raised even higher.

In this issue, Trevor Fitzroy still has extreme tendencies and he might look insane or unhinged to you. Still, Fitzroy really has diabolical plans to execute and those plans involves his ability to open portals to bring in his reinforcements from far away, including the “denizens of the future.” Adding to Fitzroy’s merciless and arrogant personality is his use of the captives’ life force to energize himself to open portals. Really, he does not care much about the lives of captives as he treats them as nothing more than bodies of energy for his use. Whilce Portacio really excels in not only bringing the script to life but also showcasing the personality and expressions of Fitzroy who at this point in comic book history was a brand new villain for the X-Men.  

As for the X-Men’s Gold Team, not having Jean Grey was really disadvantageous to them which compels Professor X to actually join them on their mission. This is a notable development as Xavier is very close with Jean (his original student and fellow telepath) and he knows that great odds await their team. Xavier’s involvement added a lot to the plot itself and I love the way John Byrne and Portacio portrayed him here.

When it comes to the storytelling, the pace noticeably moved faster as a lot of payoffs to the build-up were executed here. The X-Men themselves each got their respective share of the spotlight and all of them were portrayed consistently in character. The stakes were raised here this time and the handling of all the details and developments was very solid.

Conclusion

Knowing great odds await them, Charles Xavier joins the X-Men on their mission to save Jean Grey.

Even with the stakes raised higher, the creative team delivered the great stuff Uncanny X-Men (1991) is a very worthy follow-up to the previous issue. In fact, I find this comic book more entertaining and more intriguing to read from start to finish. Fitzroy is indeed a very worthy new enemy for the X-Men’s Gold Team, and there is much that long-time X-Men fans can enjoy here.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men (1991) is highly recommended!

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #281 (1991)

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #281 (1991)

carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1991 to explore one of the many tales of the Marvel shared universe through the Uncanny X-Men series…Uncanny X-Men .

For the newcomers reading this, Marvel had a major reorganizing of their X-Men-related comic book series in the 2nd half of 1991. After the events of the Muir Island Saga, the X-Men grew into such a large group they had to be divided into two teams – Blue and Yellow – under Charles Xavier who returned as their leader. When X-Men #1 (by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee) launched in 1991, it showed the Blue Team dealing with Magneto. Uncanny X-Men was released the same month as that comic book and it shows the first mission of the Gold Team composed of Storm, Jean Grey, Colossus, Iceman and Archangel. Very notably, its story took place immediately after X-Men #5 was released in 1992.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men , published in 1991 by Marvel Comics with a story co-written by Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio and script by John Byrne. The art was done by Portacio with ink work by Art Thibert.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins in the Australian outback where the Reavers are relaxing while the sandstorm is happening and with them is Donald Pierce. Suddenly, a group of Sentinels attacked them resulting in deaths of some of their members.

Elsewhere in New York City, Storm, Jean Grey, Archangel, Colossus and Iceman – all in formal attire as civilians – attend a lavish party at the headquarters of the Hellfire Club. It turns out, they were invited by Emma Frost who leads the club. Even with several guests and a lot of enjoyable things around them, the X-Men remain prepared to react if something unfortunate happens.

After a brief moment of tension between the X-Men and the Hellions, someone in a powered suit of armor crashed through a door near Jean, Storm and Archangel. Emma Frost emerges, takes the helmet off the armored person (a young woman) and even welcomed the X-Men. Frost claims that the armored lady was another assassin who tried to take her life and it is the 2nd assassination attempt she encountered over the past weeks….

Quality

The Sentinels, Lady Deathstrike and Donald Pierce in an intense scene.

As this comic book was part of the new era of the X-Men, the creative team came up with tale that is loaded with sub-plots that had a mix of old (the X-Men fought with the Hellfire Club during the Dark Phoenix Saga, and had encounters with the Sentinels a number of times) and new (Trevor Fitzroy – the illegitimate son of Sebastian Shaw – and the Upstarts are the new antagonists of the X-Men) creative elements for the X-Men’s Gold Team to encounter. The fact that the Hellfire Club is present in the story requires readers to have some knowledge about them from previous X-Men comic books as well as other characters and past tales that formed the background of the newer characters.  

The story was made to modernize the X-Men and their struggle with people they encounter, while creatively reconnecting with the past. This should not be a surprise because writer John Byrne (yes, the same creator behind The Man of Steel mini-series) himself was involved in the Dark Phoenix Saga. The result is a tale of intrigue, twists, action and a lot of tension here. 

When it comes to encounters, I enjoyed the discussion the X-Men had with Emma Frost (first appeared in Uncanny X-Men ) who was their fierce enemy (Frost previously tried to manipulate Kitty Pryde) before having a change of heart and partnered with Professor X. Their exchange of words was civil, smart and there were some nice pay-offs in the form of intriguing revelations. The script by John Byrne was really solid here.

The artwork by Whilce Portacio here is still great to look at and his contribution on modernizing the X-Men’s look for the 1990s is a must-see. The same can be said with his take on Emma Frost,  and the other established characters here. Portacio’s visualization of Trevor Fitzroy has that strong science fiction vibe combined with that fluffy early 1990s look.

Conclusion

The X-Men witness an intense moment followed by the emergence of Emma Frost.

Even though there were a few bumps on the flow of the narrative, I can say that Uncanny X-Men (1991) is a very enjoyable read filled with intrigue, twists, reconnections to the past, notable character moments and sufficient spectacle. Its story has a lot of details and attachments to the past which will resonate with long-time X-Men fans. At the same time, Whilce Portacio’s art works made this one of the finest looking Uncanny X-Men issues of the 1990s and that is saying a lot. Considering the details and the richness of the writing, this Uncanny X-Men comic book should be read at a moderate pace as paying close attention to what was presented is essential.

That being said, this first tale of the Gold Team of the X-Men is a great read.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men (1991) is highly recommended!

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #131 (1980)

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #131 (1980)

carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1980 to take a close look at one of the many tales of the Marvel Comics shared universe told through the monthly series of Uncanny X-Men.

In my previous review, Dazzler was formally introduced as the X-Men encountered her. Along the way, the other newbie Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat) got involved with X-Men members Storm, Wolverine and Colossus and danger got to them. Brewing within the background were plot elements regarding the Hellfire Club and the Dark Phoenix.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men published in 1980 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Chris Claremont and drawn by John Byrne.  

The cover.

Early story

The story begins on the streets of Chicago as the 13-year-old Kitty Pryde desperately runs away from a car that has been chasing her. Just as she trips, the Jean Grey (in her form as the Phoenix) suddenly appears right in front of the car (driven by two armed personnel of the Hellfire Club) and uses her immense power to stop and damage it. This spared Kitty Pryde’s life and made her more confused. Nightcrawler suddenly appears in front of Kitty, grabs her and leap off to a higher place to be safe.

Cyclops and Dazzler arrive to see Phoenix still observing the damaged car and the two Hellfire Club personnel knocked out cold. As Dazzler is amazed by what Phoenix did, Cyclops tells Jean that his instructions were to stop the car but not turning it into scrap. Jean responds by stating that he did not feel Kitty’s stark terror nor did he sense the thoughts of the men who were in the car.

After being called from above by Nightcrawler, Cyclops, Phoenix and Dazzler make their way up to the top of the building. Nightcrawler reveals that Kitty broke away from him and dove right through the roof…

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Kitty Pryde took the risk to help the X-Men free Wolverine.

Upon close inspection, this is a richly layered tale that nicely paid off some of the build-up in the previous issue while consistently building up the plot elements for the events to follow (the eventual Hellfire Club encounter and the Dark Phoenix Saga). In this issue, you will get to see the X-Men in action with Dazzler (who just joined in to help them without fully committing to joining their team) on a series of events that involve encountering Miranda Frost and finding their captured teammates.

As this was written by Chris Claremont, you will see a lot of character development (aided a lot with the use of thought balloons) and key observations emphasized (clever exposition of details) as the plot moved forward. This tale has the classic elements of good-versus-evil backed with action and some twists that will definitely keep readers entertained. It is through the dramatization and observations of the characters that made the narrative deep and by the end of it, you will most likely get to know the characters a lot more.

Apart from witnessing Dazzler’s first unofficial mission (note: misadventure) with the X-Men, you will see Kitty Pryde shine as the fragile yet capable teenager do something heroic which symbolically justified her entry into the X-Men. This story also touches on the theme of immense power which was dramatized nicely through Jean Grey and Cyclops. Cyclops here was written to be very concerned about Jean Grey having god-like powers as the Phoenix which he sees as too risky and he hopes that she will maintain self-control. Even Storm expressed the same concern about the Phoenix. All of these dramatics combined with the superhero spectacle and steady way of presenting exposition were nicely pulled off by the Claremont-Byrne team.

Finally, I want to say that Emma Frost was portrayed as a ruthless, cold-hearted and elitist super villain who happens to be one of the central figures of the Hellfire Club (which itself was being built up by Claremont-Byrne as a dangerous force of opposition for the X-Men to face). Emma Frost is not just another evil figure…she is a telepath capable of overwhelming others and she has a very high ambition of accumulating power socially, economically and politically. Clearly she was created to be a recurring evil figure within Marvel’s shared comic book universe.

Conclusion

A scene showing a few X-Men members with Dazzler and Kitty Pryde as the clear newcomers.

Even if you see Uncanny X-Men (1980) as simply a build-up tale for the inevitable Dark Phoenix Saga, it is clear that the comic book still stands out on its own as it strongly paid-off what was built up in the previous issue and the high quality on storytelling was successfully maintained. This is an entertaining read and, quite notably, it develops specific characters in very believable ways. So much so, you will get to know the characters better by the time you reach the end. As for the fans of Dazzler, there are things to enjoy in this X-Men tale and it definitely is a must-read before reading Dazzler #1 (1981).

Overall, Uncanny X-Men (1980) is highly recommended!

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Freex #10 (1994)

A Look Back at Freex #10 (1994)

carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, comic book collectors and fans of the Ultraverse! Today we will revisit the Ultraverse following the team of misfits called Freex. In my past Freex review, we saw the first appearance of Contrary who went on to become one of the more intriguing members of the superhero team UltraForce. As seen in the UltraForce monthly series, Contrary proved to be very intelligent, very resourceful and has what it takes to manipulate the behaviors and direction of even the likes of Hardcase (the team leader), Prototype and Prime.  

Of course, before the events of UltraForce happened, many of Contrary’s traits and operations were first explored in the Freex monthly series. To learn more about her, here is a look back at Freex , published in 1994 by Malibu Comics with a story written by Gerard Jones and drawn by Ben Herrera.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins inside a secret facility. Ray/Boom Boy of Freex has just been abducted and is restrained in the presence of Contrary who is just seating near him looking sexy and comfortable. Knowing that Boom Boy has no chance to escape and fight back, she releases him and mentions that she has other students who will fight for her.

Slowly, Contrary leads him into another place of the facility telling him that he’s not locked up (like a prisoner) but rather he is home (implying there is a place for him at the facility). She introduces him to her Academy for the New Elite with her students engaging in a training session against drones and obstacles. Her students are Feline, Waver, Flygirl and Cayman.

Meanwhile, members of the Freex are still homeless and are trying to figure out how to find Boom Boy… 

Quality

The Freex, without Boom Boy, struggling.

I want to start with the writing. This issue was clearly less about Freex and more of Boom Boy (note: his personal origin emphasized) and Contrary and her academy of people with powers and special abilities. Creatively, this story has strong X-Men vibes in it which I personally enjoyed. I do confirm that the writing is strong on storytelling, characterization and dialogue.

While the previous issue introduced her briefly, Contrary is heavily emphasized in this issue. Apart from being resourceful and highly intelligent, she is also erotic with her appearance (so much of her skin exposed always) and at the same time she is well portrayed as a mentor to her students complete with traits of motherly care to them. In comparison with what I’ve seen in X-Men comic books, Contrary is like a combination of Charles Xavier and Emma Frost with some traces of Moira MacTaggert. I should also state that Contrary has a keen perception on finding outstanding or special individuals that she can help develop in more ways than one.

Going back to Boom Boy, this comic book really redefined him not only as a questionable member of Freex but also as an Ultraverse character in general. By reading this story, you will not only relate with Boom Boy but also experience the challenge he is having on whether to decide to be with his old pals or join Contrary’s academy (which itself is inspired by Xavier’s School of Gifted Children in X-Men comics) to really leave his past behind and move forward personally.

While this comic book is heavy with characterization and exposition, there is still a good amount of superhero to enjoy here. The good news is that artist Ben Herrera showed a lot of creative stuff with the spectacle.   

Conclusion

This scene has very strong X-Men vibes.

Freex (1994) is a great Ultraverse comic book! I really found this particular issue to be very engaging from start to finish. As a story about the Freex themselves, this one saw their story as desperate nomads move forward a lot. Still the standouts of the story are Boom Boy and Contrary. If you have not read any issues of UltraForce yet, I highly recommend reading this so you can get to know Contrary better as she is one of the core UF members.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Freex (1994), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the comic book costs $11.

Overall, Freex (1994) is highly recommended!

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com