Tag: Kitty Pryde

A Look Back at What If #23 (1991)

A Look Back at What If #23 (1991)

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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 and explore a part of Marvel Comics’ universe through the reimagined tales emphasized in the What If monthly series.

If you are not aware of the extensive literary history of the X-Men, the mutant franchise of Marvel Comics had its turning point in the mid-1970s with the release of the 68-page Giant-Size X-Men  which introduced a newer lineup of mutants (Wolverine, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Thunderbird and Storm). It has been argued that Giant-Size X-Men marked the starting point of the bronze age of comics in America and creatively it sparked a new chain of X-Men stories that captivated the fans and attracted new readers.

But what would have happened had the newer lineup of the X-Men did not even exist?

With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If , published in 1991 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by Rodney Ramos.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins when the original X-Men (Cyclops, Jean Grey, Angel, Beast and Iceman) members, Havok and Polaris arrive on the island of Krakoa. A huge green monster suddenly appears and attacks them. Guided by Professor X’s mind, Marvel Girl/Jean Grey helps Polaris by overriding the mental blocks that prevented her from using her full magnetic might. With a lot more power in her, Polaris takes action and helps the X-Men not only overwhelm the monster but also hurled the entire island of Krakoa into space.

As the X-Men were never captured by Krakoa, there was no reason to recruit a new team. The X-Men returned home and proceeded with other matters. On the other hand, Charles Xavier experiences a series of intense nightmares of conflict in outer space. As the nightmares took its toll on him, Professor X decides to take a vacation. Before he could leave, the X-Men are suddenly attacked by Eric the Red, Proudstar and Nightcrawler…  

Quality

Without the existence of the 2nd X-Men team (from Giant-Size X-Men ), the original X-Men’s first encounters with Dazzler, Kitty Pryde and the Hellfire Club turned out totally different.

This What If tale exploring an alternate chain of events involving only the original X-Men is not only a daring piece of work by the creators but it is also highly ambitious as seen through the scope of the plot. I’m not just talking about the non-existence of the 2nd X-Men lineup of Giant-Size X-Men but also alternate realities of real X-Men developments such as the encounter with the Phoenix, Lilandra and Professor X’s first encounter, the X-Men’s encounter with the Hellfire Club, and more. Truly, the alterations were executed and the consequences were quite intense.

By focusing on the concept of the original X-Men proceeding as the 2nd X-Men team did not materialize, the Busiek-Ramos team really went all-in exploring the different possibilities and most of them were intriguing and entertaining to follow. The reading experience can be jarring because of the sudden change of scope that happens when the narrative suddenly shifted from one plot development (of local conflict) to another (a conflict on a galactic scale). Indeed, the narrative can be challenging to follow and to really enjoy it, you should pay strong attention to the details as you read on.

When it comes to character development, there is very little to find here which is not surprising given the way the script was written and also because the spotlight had to be shared by so many characters. Still, I enjoyed the character moments between Cyclops and Jean Grey, particularly during important points in the 2nd half of the story.  

If there were any weak spots in the presentation, it is the fact that a lot of exposition had to be done and there were certain parts of the narrative that felt crammed with an excessive amount of details. Not only that, there is also an excessive amount of characters that go beyond the X-Men such as Lilandra of the Shi’ar Empire, the Starjammers, Alpha Flight, the Avengers and other beings of science fiction mixed in which make following the narrative challenging at certain points.

Conclusion

The original X-Men team plus Polaris and Havok.

What If (1991) has more than enough advantages that outweigh the disadvantages. It’s story is very intriguing and enjoyable to read even though there were some bumpy parts on the narrative. Still, it is great to see what would have happened had the newer X-Men team never materialized and this comic book’s ending is very impactful to see.

Overall, What If (1991) 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 #157 (1982)

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #157 (1982)

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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 1982 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 retro review, Charles Xavier got reunited with his beloved Lilandra, the empress of the Shi’ar Empire, as they were trapped temporarily by the Brood. Elsewhere, Corsair reveals to his son Cyclops what happened before they got separated on Earth twenty years prior. The X-Men and the Starjammers got captured by the Brood’s massive transport which turned out to be a massive organic creature. The conflict that followed saw another battle between the X-Men and the Brood but with the stakes raised higher.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Dave Cockrum.  

The cover.

Early story

The story begins in space where the X-Men and the Starjammers worked together to repair the external parts of the Starjammer ship. An incident happens in which Wolverine starts to float away from the ship while Colossus loses consciousness. One of the Starjammers saved Wolverine.

Just as the Starjammers used their advanced technology to help the unconscious Colossus, Empress Lilandra tells Professor X and a few others that she used her imperial commlink and private code to each Chanellor Araki to confirm to him that she is free and unharmed. Supposedly, Lilandra’s move should compel Araki to call off the punitive strike against Earth.

As Lilandra starts communicating with the flagship that carries Araki, Admiral Lord Samedar takes control of the ship and declares that they will execute Araki’s orders to obliterate Earth…

Quality

Kitty Pryde on the move against all odds.

Following the events of the two previous issues, this story is another engaging pay-off to the established build-up but with the stakes raised higher as Earth becomes a target of the defiant Shi’ar officials who themselves turned out to be defiant towards their empress Lilandra all along. Not only that, there is a good amount of intrigue with the way the Shi’ar people are portrayed here.

The X-Men here continue to struggle not only because of Colossus’ weakness but also because something bad happened to their leader Professor X (a must-read scene). Far away from the rest of their teammates, Nightcrawler and Kitty Pryde became major players in this particular story and what happened with them was nicely structured by Chris Claremont. This is clearly a big pay-off to what was staged in issue #155 and it sure is worth anticipating!

If you have great interest with the Brood, you will be delighted to see more of the way they communicate and how they treat foreigners like Deathbird as they live on with their uncompromising belief that their race backs winners only.

Conclusion

How the Brood treats Deathbird.

Uncanny X-Men (1982) is an action-packed sci-fi tale that continued Claremont’s direction of the X-Men while also emphasizing the Brood as well as the Starjammers and the Shi’ar as crucial players in this particular storyline. There is plenty of superhero spectacle to enjoy here, a few memorable character moments and if you are fond of Chris Claremont’s works, you will enjoy the twists and surprises he pulled off here.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men (1982) 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 #156 (1982)

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #156 (1982)

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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 1982 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 retro review, the X-Men got involved in a high-stakes mission to find and rescue the kidnapped Shi’ar empress Lilandra. Things are not easy on the X-Men’s side as Cyclops is still uneasy over the truth he learned about his father Corsair while the leader Charles Xavier had to deal with the Shi’ar officials who have their agenda that could cause trouble on Earth. What the X-Men faced was a few of the Brood and Deathbird.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Dave Cockrum.  

The cover.

Early story

The story begins in New York City. The X-Men just fought with the Brood and Deathbird, and Charles Xavier has gone missing. Wolverine, Storm, Corsair, Cyclops and the Avengers member Tigra attend to a mortally wounded Colossus who was hit with acid.

Just as the local police arrived, Tigra tries her best to talk with them. Suddenly a gigantic space ship arrived floating above New York shocking everyone. The ship unleashes a beam of light down to pick up Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Corsair and the ailing Colossus. The giant ship then flies away leaving a lot of people stunned.

It turns out the ship belongs to the Starjammers, a group of space pirates that Corsair leads. Colossus then gets treated with alien technology…

Quality

The spectacle and the new encounter with the Brood were nicely done.

Similar to issue , the story here is very in-depth and has so much details and plot-related connections, it will require a great amount of attention from you in order to understand what is going and what is happening within. In this issue, you will get to see the Starjammers gang that Corsair spent a long time with, further development between Corsair and son Cyclops, the reunion between Charles Xavier and Empress Lilandra, and more of the Brood.

To put things clearly, Chris Claremont invested a lot of details when it comes to dramatizing the characters, insert revelations from the past, emphasized the many reactions of the X-Men members and carefully implemented stronger science fiction elements that really added depth to the plot. In many ways, this story is a huge pay-off to the build-up of the previous comic book and there is a lot more to the connection between Deathbird (a very capable villainess) and the Brood.

Having read lots of Claremont-authored X-Men stories, I found this 1982 story enjoyable and compelling to read. The big difference is that there is a stronger element of spectacle in this story which is related to the stronger sci-fi elements as well as Claremont’s strategic handling of the X-Men. At this point, it is clear that something new was being built up with the Brood, space travel and new frontiers. This is a strong sci-fi X-Men tale.

Conclusion

Professor X with his beloved Lilandra.

Uncanny X-Men (1982) is indeed an enjoyable read provided that you pay close attention to the details, the characters and you have read the previous issue. This is the X-Men literally going deeper with science fiction and the Brood here was just about to rise further as a major force of opposition that would impact Marvel’s mutants. I should also state that Professor X and Empress Lilandra being together is a pretty compelling scene to read. As of this writing, I am convinced to keep on exploring further tales from this era of the X-Men.  

Overall, Uncanny X-Men (1982) 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 #155 (1982)

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #155 (1982)

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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 1982 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.

This review will examine not only the first-ever appearance of the X-Men foes the Brood but also the effects of other developments that made their impact on key members of Marvel’s team of mutants.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Dave Cockrum.  

The cover.

Early story

The story begins as a jet carrying Cyclops, Storm and Corsair flies. Tensions are already intense as Cyclops is struggling with the shocking truth that his father – Corsair the leader of the Starjammers – is still living and recently returned to Earth seeking help.

Storm tries to emotionally reconnect with her teammate but Cyclops pushes back as he just found out that she knew Corsair was his father for several months already and never bothered to tell him. Tension grew worse as Corsair tried explaining himself to his son only to get a harsh response in return. Cyclops questioned his father if he even tried to learn what happened to him and his brother Alex (Havok) over the previous twenty years.

Suddenly the jet begins to glow. It turns out that a transporter beam hit them. In an instant, jet got transported forty thousand kilometers above the Earth and into the deck of the Shi’ar Dreadnought. Cyclops, Storm and Corsair find themselves surrounded by armed personnel and an audience of several alien beings.

Suddenly, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, Wolverine and Professor X appeared out of nowhere and right next to the jet…

Quality

Wolverine takes on one of the Brood. As this marked the Brood’s first appearance in comics, Wolverine’s encounter with one of them here is a prelude of more intense things to come.

Upon close inspection of the storytelling, this comic book is pretty loaded with details related to developments that took place in previous issues. Apart from Cyclops’ personal struggle on accepting the truth about his father’s existence, there are references to what happened recently on the parts of Xavier, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Wolverine and Kitty Pryde. Not only that, this story also reveals details about Professor X’s past interaction with Empress Lilandra and the Shi’ar race.

As it turns out, the Empress was abducted by terrorists and many of her ministers got killed. This previous event incidentally sets the stage for the new tasks for the X-Men to handle in this particular story which also comes with strong science fiction elements.

Adding further to the X-Men’s new mission to follow the trail to Earth and liberate Empress Lilandra if she is still living, Cyclops’ father Corsair was found to be a conspirator (to be punished) and the Shi’ar’s high officials will only follow Xavier’s lawful command (as the imperial consort) to a certain limit. This new conflict is literally loaded with lots of details that became part of the build-up, and to really grasp it all, you should pay close attention to the details here and in the previous comic books. In other words, this is not an easy read.

Apart from the general concept and plot structuring, Chris Claremont pulled off some clever moves with the way he portrayed Charles Xavier’s leadership and cunning. The X-Men leader knows that a lot is at stake in the new mission and he is certain that further Shi’ar presence on Earth would result in catastrophe.

As for the mission itself, the X-Men got someone from the Avengers to aid them. With Storm and Corsair moving and operating apart from the rest of the team. This leads to another series of developments plus twists that you should read for yourselves.

Conclusion

An intense scene that really puts the X-Men into a predicament and a potential conflict between worlds.

Uncanny X-Men (1982) is not an easy read but if you have a strong understanding of the many plot details and related character developments, then you will eventually enjoy this story. The literary debut of the Brood here is not too significant as it preceded the further emphasis of the alien monster race in the succeeding issues. A highlight here is the intriguing portrayal of Professor X as X-Men leader, as Lilandra’s lover and as the bridge between humanity, mutants and the aliens of the Shi’ar empire. There is also a good amount of spectacle to keep you entertained, particularly during the 2nd half of the story. Considering all the build-up and exposition that took place in this comic book, don’t expect the mission to be concluded within.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men (1982) 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)

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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…

Quality

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 What If #27 (1981)

A Look Back at What If #27 (1981)

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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 arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1980s and examine an alternate universe portrayal of the X-Men and the Dark Phoenix saga itself as told in one of the comic books of the first volume of the series What If.

So much has been discussed about the Dark Phoenix saga of the Uncanny X-Men series through the decades. A lot point to it as the greatest X-Men ever told while some called it the true X-Men epic story that Chris Claremont and John Byrne came up with. Considering its deep impact and significance on the Marvel Comics shared universe, it was only a matter of time before the publisher decided to revisit the said storyline but explore other outcomes through the What If series.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #27 published in 1981 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Mary Jo Duffy and drawn by Jerry Bingham.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with the Watcher looking back at the events that led to the Dark Phoenix saga, who got impacted and how Jean Grey used a weapon of alien origin to end her own life and prevent the Dark Phoenix from raging.

Suddenly, an alternate reality begins when Jean Grey survives and Cyclops reacts by using his optic blasts on incoming enemies until he got overwhelmed. The X-Men have been defeated and are brought to the imperial flagship of Lilandra’s grand fleet where the Shi’ar scientists prepare for the destruction of Phoenix.

Jeay Grey remains alive, floating above the X-Men and the others as Lilandra’s people prepare to start the process of the psychic lobotomizer on her. Their intention is to act upon Jean Grey’s brain and destroy certain parts of it in order to neutralize the Phoenix power within her. The operation turned out successful and Jean Grey survives once more. She and her fellow X-Men return to Earth…

Quality

This conflict between Phoenix-powered Jean Grey and Galactus is a must-see.

This early, I can say that this is a very great exploration and portrayal of the concept about Phoenix (within Jean Grey) not dying during the Dark Phoenix saga. The script of this comic book is so great (note: solid plot structure, consistent portrayals of the characters, strong build-up with solid pay-off and more), it’s almost as if Mary Jo Duffy and Chris Claremont worked together behind the scenes.

The protagonist in this story is Jean Grey and this comic book examines her struggle with adjusting her personal life and her effort to fit in once again within the X-Men while remembering fully that as Dark Phoenix, she still remains guilty of destroying an entire solar system and committing the mass murder of five billion people.

Unsurprisingly, due to the emergence of a tremendous crisis deep in space, Jean Grey gets involved with her team going to the site on a mission. This easily puts her into a situation that makes her revive the power of the Phoenix deep within herself. While the use of the tremendous power of the Phoenix to help the X-Men looked sensible at first glance, it only signified the beginning of a chain of destruction and unfortunate developments. As expected, Jean Grey can only go so far with her good nature and her free will while having the magnificent powers of the Phoenix.

While the conflicts were portrayed well, Mary Jo Duffy’s script raises key questions about the red-head X-Men member: How can Jean Grey ever achieve a normal life and level with her X-Men teammates knowing that she carries powers that make her god-like? How can she ever forget the tragic fact that as Dark Phoenix, she murdered billions in deep space? What can Charles Xavier do to lead and guide the X-Men knowing that Jean is way too powerful? Could the love of Cyclops be helpful for Jean Grey’s personal efforts to control the Phoenix power within?

Another highlight of this story is the final seven pages. The ending is very impactful and definitely something you must see.

Conclusion

This happened after Jean Grey’s survival.

What If #27 (1981) is a classic alternate reality portrayal of the Marvel Comics universe and it surely works as a companion piece to what was established in the Dark Phoenix saga. Mary Jo Duffy’s script really captured the spirit of Claremont’s X-Men and the dramatic stuff and all the build-up led to a very tremendous ending that can disturb you or even satisfy you in the most unusual way. Most notably, this comic book really answered the question about what would happen had Phoenix did not die. The 2nd tale of this comic book – the Kree Encounter – is an interesting additive.

Overall, What If #27 (1981) 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 X-Men #24 (1993)

A Look Back at X-Men #24 (1993)

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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 culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the X-Men monthly series of the 1990s and look back into the one of the comic books that was released in 1993 which was the year Marvel celebrated the 30th anniversary of the X-Men franchise. To be more specific, the comic book in this retro review took place right after the death of Colossus’ sister and just before the big Fatal Attractions stories in Uncanny X-Men #304 (1993) and X-Men #25 (1993).

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men #24, published by Marvel Comics in 1993 with a story written by Fabian Nicieza and drawn by Andy Kubert.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins inside a high-end restaurant wherein Rogue and Gambit, both dressed in formal attire, have dinner and spend quality time together. Their private talk turns awkward when Rogue asks him about his silence about his wife (refer to X-Men ). Gambit, in his attempt to change the subject, asks Rogue why other people do not know her real name. This leads them into staring at each other in silence.

Over the mansion, Dr. Moira McTaggert and Banshee are reunited while Charles Xavier and Beast are inside the laboratory working and analyzing as to how Illyana Rasputin died. Over at a local airport, Jean Grey and Cyclops are reunited…

Quality

Psylocke and Revanche.

Have you heard about the expression “the calm before the storm”? That truly reflects what this comic book is all about. X-Men #24 (1993) was all about build-up of information and character developments, getting specific X-Men characters reunited, tying up some loose ends from the past while also building up tension for near-future events and more. There is no battle between good and evil here as this was written to set up the characters for specific storylines that were set to happen and Fatal Attractions was just a part of them. No superhero action here, just lots of dialogue plus romance, suspense and melodrama.

If there is anything notable here, it is the romantic time Rogue and Gambit have together. While their relationship got deeper, Fabian Nicieza also opened up the possibility that secrets between the two could still derail their romantic connection. Eventually, their relationship got strained as seen in X-Men #33 (1994).

This comic book also took time to explore further the mystery between Revanche and Psylocke, and also the negative impact Illyana’s death towards Jubilee. All throughout, Nicieza’s dialogue is solid and captured the personalities of each character.

To Andy Kubert…why did you draw Cyclops’ eyes like this?!

As for the art, I noticed there is a drop in the quality of Andy Kubert’s work in this comic book. The way I see it, his work looked rushed especially when compared to his more polished works in X-Men to 23, X-Men and others. As far as his X-Men works of 1993 are concerned, this is easily Kubert’s weakest work.

Conclusion

Banshee and Moira reunited.

X-Men #24 (1993) is easily the build-up comic book leading to the massive, highly dramatic events that took place in Uncanny X-Men , X-Men , the wedding of Cyclops and Jean Grey, the Phalanx Covenant storyline, and more. As the 30th anniversary was the most dominant event of the X-Men in 1993, this comic book served its purpose in getting key characters together as well as giving something meaningful (as opposed to being entertaining) for dedicated X-Men fans to enjoy and relate with. That being said, this comic book won’t resonate with newcomers or readers who decide to read this as their personal introduction into the lore of the X-Men within the Marvel Comics shared universe of the time.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of X-Men #24 (1993) be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $40 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs $120.

Overall, X-Men #24 (1993) is satisfactory.

+++++

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 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/

A Look Back at Wolverine #75 (1993)

A Look Back at Wolverine #75 (1993)

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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 collectors, 1990s culture enthusiasts and fans of the X-Men! We go back to the year 1993 when the 30th anniversary of the X-Men was celebrated with the 6-part Fatal Attractions storyline. Already I reviewed Uncanny X-Men #304 (Part 3) which was not worthy of the X-Men’s 30th anniversary celebration. X-Men #25 (Part 4) meanwhile was not only great but also shocking and had a years-long impact on X-Men comics.

So now the focus is on the 5th chapter of the Fatal Attractions storyline handled by the Larry Hama-Adam Kubert team on the Wolverine monthly series of the time. With those details laid down, here is a look back at Wolverine , published by Marvel Comics in 1993 with a story written by Larry Hama and drawn by Adam Kubert.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins in outer space. Carrying Charles Xavier, Wolverine, Gambit, Jean Grey, Rogue and Quicksilver (who participated in the dangerous mission in X-Men ), the X-Men’s jet (piloted by Bishop) struggles mechanically as it was not designed for space travel. Worse, Wolverine is under very serious condition and the medical unit has been operating in full capacity dealing with his intense trauma.

In an attempt to alleviate Wolverine’s psychic trauma, Charles Xavier and Jean Grey enter his mind and discover that there is a world full of pain and horror. They see visions of a restrained Wolverine (from his Weapon X days) being attacked by Sabretooth and Lady Deathstrike. Xavier explains that they are at the epicenter of Logan’s most suppressed cataclysmic memories which were clearly triggered by the physical damage Magneto inflicted on him (see X-Men ).

As the X-Men’s jet attempts to enter Earth’s atmosphere, its exteriors heat up dramatically shaking everyone inside. This complicates the situation on stabilizing Wolverine…

Quality

The other X-Men team members at their headquarters expressing worry and concern about the situation of their teammates struggling to come back home from space.

To be clear, this story continues the events of Fatal Attractions but with a bit more focus on Wolverine (compared to the earlier chapters of the storyline that is). There is no real battle between good and evil at all. It’s really all about Wolverine struggling to survive just as his teammates struggle to arrive home.

Before the stories of this comic book and X-Men happened, Wolverine has often been portrayed to be very tough, brave and a walking machine of violence which has been reflected in other X-Men stories told in video games and movies. In this very comic book, Wolverine has been presented to coming close to death. This means Logan, at this particular stage of the history of the literary X-Men, was at his most vulnerable state. In my experience, this was both alienating and shocking to see.

With regards to the writing, Larry Hama did an excellent job with pacing the story from start to finish. Right from the beginning, the story pulls you into the X-Men’s tough situation and as each page gets turned, the tension as well as the suspense builds up until the execution of the climax. Along the way, the comic book not only portrays Wolverine struggling on the edge, it also works to make you care more or be more concerned towards him. Oh yes, the shocking moment near the end of this comic book remains very powerful and you who read this retro review should read Wolverine and see it for yourselves.

Conclusion

Wolverine at his most vulnerable state.

By today’s standards, Wolverine (1993) is still a very great comic book to read. In fact, I can say it is not only one of most defining chapters of the Fatal Attractions storyline as well as one of the most significant X-Men comic books of the 1990s, it is indeed a true illustrated literature classic ever published by Marvel Comics. In retrospect, this comic book marks a major turning point in the life of Wolverine who is still one of the most iconic characters in all of superhero literature. All of these were achieved thanks to the creative team of Larry Hama and Adam Kubert (whose are here was great and stylized at the same time). Hama succeeded in writing the continuation of the Fatal Attractions storyline while balancing all of the exposition and still putting Wolverine in the center. That itself is a very great work of writing.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Wolverine (1993), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $60 while the near-mint copies of the signed-and-numbered edition and the newsstand edition cost $300 and $180 respectively.

Overall, Wolverine (1993) 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

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #130 (1980)

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #130 (1980)

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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, X-Men fans, superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today, we look back at the year 1980 specifically the time when the Uncanny X-Men monthly series was spearheaded by legendary creators Chris Claremont and John Byrne. In fact, we will examine here the comic book debut of Dazzler, a mutant with the ability to convert the vibrations of sound into light and energy beams. Dazzler is quite unique among all superheroes as she has been portrayed as a singer, an actress, a model and got associated with other Marvel superheroes. Marvel Comics went on to actually publish a regular comic book series about Dazzler which lasted over forty issues.

To say the least, the creation of Dazzler is quite intriguing as it involved a commission by an American record label for a special project with a disco queen character as the core concept and that Marvel Comics itself would develop the superhero (in the form of a singer) and that an actual singer will be produced by the said record label. Then Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter wrote a treatment for the project which turned from an animated special into a live-action film. As creative process for Dazzler went on at Marvel, Tom DeFalco (who later succeeded Shooter as editor-in-chief) wrote her creation while John Romita, Jr. did the character design. The name Dazzler was the result of a suggestion by Roger Stern. There also was some Bo Derek influence on the creation of Dazzler.

While the special project did not happen due to the financial problems of the record label, Marvel went on to formally introduce Dazzler in the pages of an Uncanny X-Men comic book handled by Claremont-Byrne team.

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

The cover.

Early story

The story begins on Delano Street in Lower Manhattan. Scott Summers/Cyclops, Jean Grey and Nightcrawler had just arrived on a mission to locate a mutant (detected by Cerebro) not knowing that they themselves are bring monitored by a hidden sinister force. With Nightcrawler left in-charge of guarding their Rolls Royce, Scott and Jean enter a deteriorating building only to find a club on an upper level full of lights, loud music, dancing and a lot of people. They begin to start searching for the detected mutant.

Outside, a truck parks on the other side of the same street where the X-Men’s Rolls Royce was parked at. Inside the truck one of the operators communicates to a certain Mr. Shaw who states that the Hellfire Club is proud. Over at the Hellfire Club’s headquarters, Sebastian Shaw and Jason Wyngarde talk about the X-Men members searching the disco. Wyngarde moves on with his plan to subvert Jean Grey and gather her into their fold…

Quality

Dazzler’s very debut on this page.

The storytelling is great which is not surprising as this was done by Claremont and Byrne. It is clear that there was a good amount of preparation done which explains this comic book’s excellent ways on emphasizing the following story points: the build-up of the Hellfire Club as a potent force of evil that await the X-Men, Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat’s growing involvement, the vulnerability of Jean Grey, the build-up of the Phoenix, and the debut of Dazzler. Along the way, the creative team also ensure that the dialogue was rich (the same thing also with the thought balloons Claremont came up with), the emphasis of super powers made sense, the action scenes were satisfying and there was a good amount of suspense here.

I love the way Dazzler’s first-ever appearance was handled as it happened just after an intriguing scene about Jean Grey’s vulnerability took place. Her debut also occurred at a point when Jean and Scott seemed to be failing to find her. Of course, the 1970s disco vibe was very strong with Dazzler.

Conclusion

The plot thickens…

Without a doubt, Uncanny X-Men (1980) is a classic X-Men tale by the Claremont-Byrne team who succeeded in not only introducing Dazzler into Marvel’s comic book universe but also with strongly emphasizing the Hellfire Club as a powerful opposition which went on to have a key part in the legendary Dark Phoenix storyline that followed. Dazzler meanwhile became a very popular superhero of Marvel’s going into the 1980s. For the modern-day comic book reader, this comic book can be quite challenging to read as it is very wordy (typical of Claremont).

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Uncanny X-Men (1980), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the very fine copy of the regular edition costs $1,407 while the fine copy of the newsstand edition costs $1,013.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men (1980) 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

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #304 (1993)

A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #304 (1993)

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, X-Men fans, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the 30th anniversary celebration of the X-Men which took place in 1993. Back then, Marvel Comics went full blast with the anniversary celebration of their mutants by releasing related merchandise, posters and comic books with gimmick covers (note: read my retro review of 1993’s X-Men #25) that came with high prices.

To put things in perspective regarding 1993, Marvel’s X-Men line of comics had monthly series of Uncanny X-Men, X-Men (Volume 2), X-Force, X-Factor, Excalibur, Wolverine and Cable. X-Factor marked the start of the Fatal Attractions storyline which was the basis for the X-Men 30th anniversary celebration. X-Force was released and it not only brought Cable back but also Magneto.  

Then came the 3rd chapter of the Fatal Attractions storyline which was published in Uncanny X-Men . Not only did that particular comic book bring together many mutants and moved the storyline forward to a crucial stage (note: tension leading to it was built up in Uncanny X-Men , Uncanny X-Men #303 and also in X-Men Unlimited #1), it also served as the very celebration of the 30th anniversary of the X-Men (although it was not the storyline’s conclusion as the plot continued in X-Men , Wolverine and Excalibur ).

So did this particular, anniversary celebrating issue of the Uncanny X-Men succeed with its objectives? Has it aged well through the decades? We can all find out in this look back at Uncanny X-Men , published in 1993 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Scott Lobdell and drawn by John Romita, Jr., Jae Lee, Chris Sprouse, Brandon Peterson and Paul Smith.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with division among the Acolytes who learned that their lord Magneto actually survived (note: refer to 1991’s X-Men #3 by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee). They ganged up against their leader Fabian Cortez for betraying Magneto. After pushing his now rebellious team members away, Cortez reminds them that for several months already, they have been continuing Magneto’s work on behalf of mutantkind. Suddenly Exodus appears to them and describes himself as the voice of Magneto and will guide mutants to rise and mentions paradise for the faithful mutants. After subduing Cortez and tempering the tension among the Acolytes, Exodus tells them to prepare themselves for ascension. This frustrates Cortez who realizes that he no longer holds leadership.

Over at the X-Men’s headquarters, Charlez Xavier is personally disturbed over the death of Illyana Rasputin, the sister of Colossus. He starts questioning himself as Illyana’s death under his watch makes his years-long mission (of convincing his fellow mutants to leave their old lives to take risks to fight for a world that fears and hates them) doubtful and tries to figure out how he could present himself in front of them. A holographic image of Lilandra appears to him.

In outer space, inside the space station called Avalon, Magneto stares at planet Earth. With nobody around him, he speaks apologizing to his followers for he cannot save them all. He also mentions that he was wrong in previously believing that he could rescue each and every one of them from humanity as he recently realized that Earth, for the moment, is doomed.

After walking an unspecified distance inside Avalon, Magneto picks up his old helmet and wears it…

Quality

This 2-page art by Brandon Peterson is easily the best looking part of the comic book.

I will start with the visual aspect of this comic book. The artistic quality ranges from fine to weird which should not be surprising since this one involved five artists. The 4 pages drawn by Brandon Peterson (who was once a regular artist on Uncanny X-Men) made the X-Men, Magneto and the Acolytes look not only good but also intense. The Peterson art here is artistically similar to the respective styles of Marc Silvestri and Jim Lee of that particular time. Jae Lee’s art on the flashback of Magneto’s life (during the time of the Nazi occupation in Europe) is undoubtedly very stylized. While his art brings out the intensity of Magneto’s painful past, certain images can be a little challenging to understand especially to readers who focus strongly only following the plot and details. John Romita, Jr.’s art, for me personally, often looks rough and there were times I hardly recognized the characters. The other artworks by Paul Smith and Chris Sprouse have cartoonish aesthetics.

This is Jae Lee’s artistic contribution to the comic book. I found it weird that Magneto’s hair was shown as white during his past with the Nazis.

As for the plot, I can clearly see that a hard effort was made to compose a story that would push the Fatal Attractions storyline forward, establish a turning point and still become worthy of celebrating the 30th anniversary of the X-Men franchise. I can say that the storytelling is somewhat bloated. Early in the story, it was made clear that the respective sections showing Exodus with the Acolytes, Charles Xavier and Magneto pointed to an eventual confrontation that happened during the funeral of Illyana Rasputin.

As the build-up continued with the flashback of Magneto’s life, the fan service short scene of Kitty Pryde and the unfeeling Colossus (note: their romance was highlighted in Uncanny X-Men many years prior), and the talk scene between Bishop and Banshee, the pace of the story slowed down dramatically. By the time the attempt to move the narrative back to the core plot was made with the funeral scene (composed of the X-Men, X-Force and X-Factor), the pace was still really way down. By the time the conflict with Magneto, Exodus and the Acolytes stated, the pace recovery was incomplete and as such, seeing the scene unfold was very jarring (and not even the pages of Colossus’ frustration towards Professor X could solve the narrative pacing problem).

Unsurprisingly, the conflict was written to be overly dramatic complete with lengthy pieces of dialogue here and there. That being said, references to past comic books were established as Magneto once again emphasizes his beliefs about the human-mutant conflict using violence (while also side-stepping Jean Grey’s psionic powers to allow the Acolytes to come in undetected).

Human-mutant conflict aside, themes about faith, religion, idolatry salvation are clearly used. Magneto, who has a tremendous record of villainy and his previous leadership of the X-Men proved useless, was portrayed to be a walking wicked idol whose followers cannot do anything except idolize him and cause violence out of dedication to him. They really could not realize that idolatry is foolish and unholy which further adds to chaos on the world. As Magneto deceived himself to be the savior and lord of mutants, he further causes more pain and destruction to others around him. In short, Magneto will always be stuck with his wicked nature and clearly does not deserve heavenly authority no matter how hard he believes himself to be a savior.

The classic rivalry between Xavier and Magneto here was portrayed dramatically and yet I cannot help but think that their conflict was nothing more than a repeat of past encounters with the state and future of mutants at stake. To be fair, what happened here served as a logical build-up for the shocking encounter between Professor X and Magneto in X-Men .

Conclusion

Nobody among the X-Men (except Charles Xavier), X-Force, Excalibur and X-Factor cared to dress properly for the funeral.

To be clear, even though I am an avid X-Men fan, I find Uncanny X-Men (1993) hard to be engaged with and hard to enjoy. Efforts to make it a worthy celebration of the X-Men are very clear but it’s just not entertaining nor compelling to read. As for the X-Men traitor scene, the revelation was not that shocking as the foreshadowing made it too obvious. At best, this comic book served as a warm-up for X-Men which itself paid-off nicely. Being more than sixty pages long (including the advertisement and bulletins), this comic book has too much creative baggage which ultimately hampered its storytelling. It’s not terrible. It’s really not that great to read. What I experienced way back in 1993 with this comic book is just the same as I re-read it. It has not aged well.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Uncanny X-Men (1993), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $20, while the near-mint copies of the signed-and-numbered edition and the newsstand edition cost $120 and $60 respectively.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men (1993) is satisfactory.

+++++

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