X-Men Adventures – Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures Season II #9 (1994)

May 1, 2024April 16, 2024carlocarrasco

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 mid-1990s to explore the adaptation of the second season of the famous X-Men: The Animated Series (X-Men TAS) in the form of the X-Men Adventures comic book series.

Before getting to the new retro comic book review, I should state that the subject X-Men Adventures comic book will involve Carol Danvers in a supporting role (in rather creative ways). Yes, I’m talking about the one character who in the history of the Marvel Comics shared universe was identified (in no particular order) as Ms. Marvel, Binary, Warbird and as Captain Marvel. As the subject comic book was published in 1994, Carol Danvers here is obviously not the woke garbage version played by Brie Larson in the movies.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures Season II #9, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by John Herbert.

Early story

The story begins at night in New York City. There, Mystique and Mister Sinister have a serious talk. Sinister believes that without Charles Xavier’s presence, the X-Men are very vulnerable and they will eventually become disorganized and fall down quickly.

Over at the mansion of Xavier, Rogue wakes up from a very intense nightmare which prompts Cyclops and Gambit to calm her down. Rogue reveals that she has been having very disturbing visions ever since Professor X disappeared. It turns out, Xavier helped her previously by using his mental abilities to block out the unpleasant memories of hers.

Jean Grey enters the room and she reveals (in response to Cyclops’ question) that she ran a computer search on the woman Rogue saw the other day and came up with several pictures. As soon as Rogue examines the pictures, she then remembers who the woman is which causes her to be consumed by another vision from deep inside her mind. She sees Ms. Marvel…

Quality

*There is a lot of stuff here that Rogue fans will enjoy.*

The first obvious thing about this comic book is that it is a character-driven tale told mainly through Rogue. In fact, this is actually a creative portrayal of Rogue’s origin written for TV by Marty Isengerg and Robert Skir, and Macchio’s adaptation here made a really solid reading experience for me.

Without going too much into spoiler territory, I can say that this origin story of Rogue was not only written for TV viewers in mind but also crafted to cater to what was back then the modern tastes of X-Men fans in general. I’m talking about 1990s X-Men and society specifically and the thing is, everything here aged well. Nothing here feels out of place. I should also state that Rogue’s upbringing are well worth exploring here.

The writing by Macchio and art by Hebert are of high quality and this comic book is really worth reading again from start to finish. The emotions channeled through Rogue are very intense without ever reaching to the point of showing her insane. Hebert’s art, meanwhile, fills every page with a good amount of visual details complete with strong facial expressions (including some very scary faces from Mystique and Ms. Marvel) and some dynamic superhero action that really spiced up the reading experience.

As mentioned earlier, Carol Danvers appears in a supporting role and the creative team came up with clever ways to emphasize the character both visually and through dramatics. The way Danvers is portrayed here should inspire readers to go out and read Marvel’s published comic books of her as Ms. Marvel. The same thing can be said about Rogue whose origin and gradual rise from an occasional character (a super villainess no less) to a prominent superhero told through Marvel Comics’ shared universe are worth revisiting.

Conclusion

*A very disturbed Rogue in the presence of her teammates.*

X-Men Adventures Season II #9 (1994) is indeed a very powerful and gripping character-driven comic book that will appeal to fans of Rogue, the X-Men and Carol Danvers. Considering the wholesome aesthetic of the X-Men animated series TV episode, this comic book has a much darker presentation that will strongly appeal to X-Men fans who want a more serious portrayal to read. As it was mainly focused on Rogue, I can say that the conflict was nicely built up and the resolution was a strong pay-off. Very clearly, the Macchio-Hebert creative duo really delivered great stuff.

Overall, X-Men Adventures Season II #9 (1994) 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 Adventures Season II #8 (1994)

April 26, 2024April 13, 2024carlocarrasco

Before getting to the new retro comic book review, I should state that it is indeed very challenging to implement the concepts of time travel and timeline conflicts into the narrative of an established X-Men universe. As far as the X-Men TAS narrative goes, Bishop and Cable are mutants who each came from different points in the future and in different ways they each made impact with the present day X-Men as portrayed in the comics (the literary X-Men specifically).

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures Season II #8, published in 1994 by Marvel with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by John Hebert. The is the 2^nd chapter of the Time Fugitives storyline.

Early story

The story begins on Earth in the far future of 3999 AD. Cable, who has been leading the fight against Apocalypse, is receiving information from his cube-shaped computer which informs him that a temporal storm has wreaked havoc with the time stream and their present is reconfiguring in response to the existence of a new past. Once realignment gets completed, everyone in the current timeline will cease to exist. Cable then learns that Bishop (who returned to the X-Men in the previous issue) is the primary chronal component of the time readjustment.

Meanwhile in the present day inside Xavier’s mansion, the X-Men listen to Bishop who explains that mutants will be blamed for the plague that a certain virus will precipitate and that the fear of the virus will make things much worse for many people. He states that the virus was not brought into being by mutants.

Beast then shares that his investigation of a viral-ridden cell sample was convincing and discovered that the virus was genetically engineered. He reveals that once the little germs spread to the mutant population and combine with mutant DNA, it could turn out incredibly deadly…

Quality

*Conflict brewing in front of a huge audience.*

To be straight to the point, what the creative team started in issue #7 got strongly concluded here. With the animated episode’s teleplay being the primary reference, writer Ralph Macchio successfully crafted a script that raised the stakes of the 2-part Time Fugitives story while tying closely the gaps with regards to the time travel and timeline conflicts concepts. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that one development that took place in the present day clearly set off the stage for another futuristic mutant to not only get involved but also make a huge impact on the narrative.

As with the previous issue, this story has elements of xenophobia as well as fear of viruses and potential massive infections which added a good layer of depth to the plot. Macchio’s writing is very strong and no matter how intense the tale got as more details got presented, it still remained very readable and efficient to follow. Also, I should say that Apocalypse’s presence turned out very powerful and it should inspire readers to search for comic books of the supervillain’s conflict with the X-Men and X-Factor for insight.

John Hebert returned on the visual department and his art style really works well with both the sci-fi concept of the story and the presentation of the X-Men plus Bishop and Cable. I really admire Hebert’s stylized take on Wolverine, Cable and Bishop as he made each them look even grittier than before. There is also this creepy vibe with the way Hebert drew some of the X-Men members’ faces. Herbert is also very good with visualizing sci-fi elements such as energy forms, futuristic machines, techno-virus forms on the skin, and more. His presentation of dynamic superhero action is great to look at. This is clearly one of the best looking issues of Season II of the X-Men Adventures series.

Conclusion

*Bishop explains things to the X-Men and Beast confirms key details.*

X-Men Adventures Season II #8 (1994) is a rock-solid comic book in terms of quality and impact. It concluded the 2-part story with a powerful resolution, it tied the loose ends in a very timely fashion and I really enjoyed the way how the X-Men were dramatized as Bishop and Cable got involved with them in their present day setting. So far, this is the most satisfying and more impactful issue of Season II I have read in this series.

Overall, X-Men Adventures Season II #8 (1994) is highly recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures Season II #7 (1994)

April 12, 2024March 30, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to explore the adaptation of the second season of the X-Men animated series in the form of the X-Men Adventures comic book series.

Before getting to the new retro comic book review, I should state that decades ago, the use of future timelines was implemented on the X-Men comics. I’m talking about the possible future where Cable and Stryfe came from, another possible future where Phoenix/Rachel Summers came from, and the more established future of the classic Days of Future Past storyline. Time travel and possible future timelines are the themes in the next X-Men Adventures comic book I reviewed recently.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures Season II #7, published in 1994 by Marvel with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by Scott Rosema.

Early story

The story begins on Earth in the far future of 3999 AD. Cable, who is fighting for the rebels, battles the deadly forces of the powers that be. It turns out, he and his teammates have been struggling a lot and their team suffered several deaths already. Even though they are very tired and heavily outnumbered, Cable refuses to give up and bravely calls for a frontal assault against their enemies.

Suddenly, Apocalypse appears on the battlefield and commands his robotic troops to destroy Cable and his fellow rebels. To Apocalypse’s surprise, a temporal storm appears and Cable notices it appearing so close to them. One of his teammates got caught by the storm which pushes Cable away. After receiving computer updates, Cable decides to get away from the robotic troops.

Meanwhile in another time period and place, Bishop returns from his mission (his interactions with the X-Men of the 20^th century – click here and here) only to discover from Forge that nothing has changed and the plague still rages on…

Quality

*The X-Men have a new problem to deal with.*

Having read X-Men Adventures #13 and #14 of season 1, I found this particular tale (clearly a sequel to Bishop’s interaction with the X-Men after traveling through time) relatable and enjoyable. There is a strong science fiction vibe here and the time travel aspect added a lot to the build-up of tension.

Bishop here is almost the protagonist as the story showed an altered future in which Forge has no memory of the X-Men and only made a reference to a plague that has lasted for a long time. This compels Bishop to go back to the 20^th century again hoping to meet the X-Men and somehow prevent the plague from bringing down society.

The impact of the mysterious virus is tremendous as so many people got infected and authorities suspect mutants to be the carriers. At this stage, the social aspects inserted by the creators really started to grow stronger within the narrative and you will see the X-Men struggling with not only the increased scrutiny on mutants but also with the manipulative tactics of anti-mutant activists who can’t help but see golden opportunities to wipe out mutants in a more clever fashion.

The dialogue here is noticeably gripping to read and the dramatization worked accordingly. There is also a good amount of superhero spectacle to enjoy here even though the X-Men have no super villains to fight with.

Conclusion

X-Men Adventures Season II #7 (1994) looks like a repeat or even a remake of what happened in X-Men Adventures #13 (Season I) but its concept turned out to be not only unique with strong social commentary and sci-fi elements, but also became really engaging thanks to the fine execution by the creative team. On the aspect of social relevance, this comic book will remind you about the internment of Japanese Americans in America (1942-1946) and the COVID-19 restrictions and the quarantine on communities imposed by governments that disrupted people’s lives. As this comic book marks the first part of the Time Fugitives, I can say that I enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to the next chapter.

Overall, X-Men Adventures Season II #7 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures Season II #5 (1994)

April 10, 2024March 30, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to explore the adaptation of the second season of the X-Men animated series in the form of the X-Men Adventures comic book series.

Before getting to the new retro comic book review, I should state that I visited Canada only once. Even before my one and only visit there, I knew through the comic books that famous character Wolverine is a native of Canada and a former member of Alpha Flight (Canadian government-sponsored team of mutant operatives). Somewhere in his past, he was live test subject of Weapon X. I have to mention this because the X-Men Adventures about to be reviewed here is focused on Wolverine.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures Season II #5, published in 1994 by Marvel with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by John Hebert.

Early story

The story somewhere in the wilderness in Canada where Wolverine helps free an animal that was stuck. Suddenly, Alpha Flight’s Vindicator appears and reminds Wolverine of the fact that he deserted them to work of Charles Xavier. It turns out, Wolverine is back in Canada to visit Heather.

Moments later, he finds himself surrounded by Vindicator’s teammates Puck, Shaman and Sasquatch, and tells them that he is never coming back to Alpha Flight. Even though two more members of the Canadian team joined in, Wolverine manages to avoid defeat in battle and hides away.

As he listens to Alpha Flight from a distance, he hears Vindicator mentioning that a certain lab is expecting their team. This causes Wolverine to remember the traumatic time he had as a live test subject of Weapon X…

Quality

A look back at the time Wolverine joined the Canadian government-sponsored superhero team Alpha Flight. Would you want to join a unit serving the woke Canadian government of Justin Trudeau in real life?

I should mention first that the teleplay by the late Len Wein contains a very solid and sensible interpretation of Wolverine’s Weapon X origin (with a modern touch for the 1990s) which turned out to be a detailed reference for Ralph Macchio to adapt into this comic book.

That being said, this comic book’s plot of Wolverine going to Canada for a solid purpose and encountering challenges – both from his past with Alpha Flight and others – while bringing back his painful Weapon X past turned out to be a really engaging read. The Weapon X flashback scenes added a depth to the story as well as Wolverine’s portrayal in this adaptation. You will see the clawed X-Men member being tough and gritty as usual, and yet you will witness his fragile side as he becomes personally troubled about the past.

The appearance of Alpha Flight here was put to good use. Apart from the revelation of Wolverine’s past membership with them, you will see the team truly operate with a clear goal as mandated by their government (note: this is clearly not the ultra-woke, Islamo-Leftist government of Justin Trudeau). In fact, this tale gives readers a glimpse of how the Canadian government analyzes and decides what to do with Canadians who are very exceptional and are more valuable than many other citizens. Alpha Flight is the government’s tool which is strongly emphasized here.

Apart from the plot focused on Wolverine, this comic book managed to move the sub-plot of Magneto and Charles Xavier forward a bit.

Conclusion

X-Men Adventures Season II #5 (1994) has a very engaging and fun tale focused on Wolverine who encounters his fellow Canadians. Anyone who loves the clawed X-Men member will have a lot to enjoy here. The appearance of Alpha Flight here (as well as in the X-Men TAS episode) added a good layer of depth to the plot while also emphasizing the shared Marvel universe in a controlled manner. Lastly, artist John Hebert’s artwork on Wolverine is really good and his high level of visual detail on other characters and locations should be seen.

Overall, X-Men Adventures Season II #5 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures Season II #3 (1994)

April 3, 2024April 1, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to explore the adaptation of the second season of the X-Men animated series in the form of the X-Men Adventures comic book series.

Before getting to the new retro comic book review, I should state that even though streaming is the norm for millions of people who love entertainment, it would be nice if the classic X-Men: The Animated Series (X-Men TAS) would someday get released on Blu-ray disc format. Even though many X-Men fans are streaming, there are still those who prefer collecting physical releases of what they enjoy. Really, watching entertainment with Blu-ray or 4K Blu-ray format is much better than streaming.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures Season II #3, published in 1994 by Marvel with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by John Hebert.

Early story

The story begins at the border of Kenya and Tanganyika where Mount Kilimanjaro rests. Something destructive emerges at the top of the mountain causing great disturbance on the people below. At a village, two black persons could not help but notice a demonic figure coming down at them. One of them gets possessed by it.

Meanwhile at their headquarters in Westchester County, New York, Jean Grey uses Cerebro to comprehensively scan the world to find Professor X’s location. What Jean detected was a psychic plane which catches Beast’s attention.

Shortly after, Rogue arrives with Storm who just returned from a hospital. As Jean updates them both, Storm realizes that the location of the psychic plane is in Africa…

Quality

The first thing I should confirm here is that there is a nice jump in the visual quality – in terms of style and detail specifically – thanks to illustrator John Hebert. Hebert’s work here is a nice relief compared to the rushed works of Andrew Wildman in the previous two issues, and he knows when to use the dynamic moments of spectacle and how to balance it with the calm moments. Hebert’s take on Wolverine is really good.

Regarding the story, I like the way the search for Charles Xavier – which was a sub-plot in the previous issues – unfolded while also opening the opportunity to develop Storm as she returns to Africa. In fact, this tale reveals some really engaging details from Storm’s past as well as her personal connection with a certain tribe of black people. These mentioned elements added nicely to the tension of a particular conflict that followed.

In fact, the Storm-centered story was nicely executed by the creative team and there were revelations that were gripping. Along the way, Rogue got a nice share of the spotlight and was a suitable supporting character even though the comic book had new characters.

Conclusion

X-Men Adventures Season II #3 (1994) is a good read and it also has a nice change of geographic setting as it mainly focused on Africa and Storm’s reconnection with her people. Storm is clearly the main character here and this is a solid pay-off as she only had a tiny part in the previous issue. This is a tale – with themes of family, culture and the responsibility that comes with having special talents or power – that should interest dedicated fans of Storm.

Overall, X-Men Adventures Season II #3 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures Season II #2 (1994)

March 27, 2024March 16, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to explore the adaptation of the second season of the X-Men animated series in the form of the X-Men Adventures comic book series.

Before getting to the retro comic book review, I want to ask you all: have you heard about the recent controversy about the firing of the showrunner of X-Men ’97? You can learn about it by clicking here and here. In case you are wondering, I have no intention to watch X-Men ’97 knowing that Marvel under woke Disney are only using established entertainment properties to spread their sinister propaganda. Hollywood has so many Commies, it should really be called Commiewood.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures Season II #2, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by Andrew Wildman.

Early story

The story begins with the newly married couple Scott Summers (Cyclops) and Jean Grey enjoying their honeymoon on a boat somewhere in the South Pacific. Jean is enjoying their privacy together free from all the pressure they experienced as X-Men members. For her, the world feels really different.

Suddenly, Jean senses something as their boat approaches an island that was supposed to be uninhabited. A man with long pink hair has been anticipating their arrival and surprises them. He uses his power to manipulate the sea water to form waves to capsize their boat and push them further to the beach.

Soon enough, Cyclops and Jean find themselves facing Mister Sinister and his henchmen…

Quality

*The Summers couple helpless in the presence of Mister Sinister who has an ambitious plan for all mutants.*

To put things clearly, this comic book is a nice pay-off to what was built up in the previous issue. Without spoiling the plot, I like the way the struggles of the X-Men were dramatized, specifically with regards to Wolverine (who was portrayed as an aggressor by the anti-mutant activists through the media) encountering the anti-mutant mob plus his interaction with Morph who got a lot more of the spotlight this time around. Morph’s return here has a bigger impact and the way things were told here will compel you to revisit the early issues of the first volume of X-Men Adventures and re-examine how he interacted with his teammates when he was still an X-Men member.

And then there is the sub-plot in which Cyclops and his wife Jean are captured by Mister Sinister and his henchmen. What I enjoyed the most in this part of the story was the efficient exposition done by the creative team to emphasize Sinister’s knowledge of Cyclops’ past and the X-Men which is connected with his master plan for the future that involves the genetic material of both Scott Summers and his wife. Sinister’s master plan for mutants is radically different from Magneto’s vision but remains essentially wicked as it involves overwhelming non-mutant people.

Conclusion

*Wolverine faces the anti-mutant activists again not for revenge but to help his teammate.*

X-Men Adventures Season II #2 (1994) is an action-packed read that is also intriguing and has few plot twists that added to the engagement. It is a better read than the previous issue and any X-Men fan who enjoys Mister Sinister antagonizing Marvel’s mutants will have stuff to enjoy and that includes the promise of future conflicts. If there’s anything that bogged down this comic book’s quality, it’s the somewhat rushed look of Andrew Wildman’s art.

Overall, X-Men Adventures Season II #2 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures Season II #1 (1994)

February 28, 2024February 28, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to explore the adaptation of the start of the second season of the X-Men animated series in the form of the X-Men Adventures comic book series.

Before getting to the retro comic book review, I want to address the recent controversy and criticism of the new animated series X-Men ’97, a continuation of the popular 1990s series that turned out to be woke by featuring the so-called non-binary presentation of people. In my view, this is not surprising given the fact that the very woke Disney company has owned Marvel Entertainment for many years now and its wokeness has infected the animated X-Men franchise along with the most recent movies and shows of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Wokeness and Leftist beliefs continue to ruin entertainment and established properties as we know it. It’s the culture of Communist-filled Hollywood (Commiewood).

So how do you reject X-Men wokeness apart from avoiding X-Men ’97? You simply go back to the X-Men animated series of the 1990s as well as the comic books that adapted the stories.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures Season II #1, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by Andrew Wildman.

Early story

The story begins with the cosmic being the Watcher carefully examining the flow of events on Earth and what has changed for the X-Men since then. Robert Kelly, who previously had an anti-mutant agenda when he was a U.S. Senator, has since been elected as the President of the United States and openly pushes for a policy of conciliation with mutants. His action sparks social unrest.

Meanwhile inside a small church far away from the nation’s capital, the wedding of Jean Grey and Scott Summers pushes through with several members of the X-Men in attendance. Very notable was the absence of Wolverine who turned out to be inside the Danger Room (deep within Charles Xavier’s estate) fighting a giant-sized version of Cyclops…

Quality

*The X-Men are troubled by the anti-mutant wave happening in public.*

As the opening issue of the second volume of the X-Men Adventures comic book series, this comic book carefully sets up the tone and the plot of a series of future challenges for the X-Men which is clearly reflected on the front cover with Mister Sinister displayed prominently. The story mainly highlights X-Men’s new struggle with the wave of anti-mutant rage in the public while dealing with the absence of their leader Cyclops (on honeymoon with his new wife Jean) while leaving space for potential sub-plots such as the attraction between Jean and Wolverine, the moves of the anti-mutant radicals and, most notable of all, the secretive return of Morph (thought to have died in issue #2 of the first season).

As expected, build-up is the main approach taken by the creators on telling the story and there were some bouts of superhero spectacle (action) that spiced up the reading experience for me. Considering what has been happening in different parts of the world in recent years, the sub-plot of the rabid anti-mutant activists using tactics to destroy the X-Men’s credibility with violence and misinformation magnified through the news networks is very socially relevant.

What the rabid anti-mutant people committed in this comic book reminds me of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel organized by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in which violence, destruction and selective images of terror spread through news networks and social media were done. Similarities aside, the wave of evil is clear here and the intent of the anti-mutant believers and Palestinian terrorists obviously expresses intentions of genocide against another particular group of people.

When it comes to weaknesses of this comic book, I cannot help but find Andrew Wildman’s art looking very rushed. There is a lack of precision and detail of his art here when compared directly to his works in the first volume of X-Men Adventures.

Conclusion

The anti-mutant radicals in this comic book have a lot in common with Palestinian terrorists, the pro-Palestine activists, the Black Lives Matter activists and other members of woke mobs. Violence, arrogance, rage and misinformation are their values.

X-Men Adventures Season II #1 (1994) incidentally works well as an adaptation of the animated series, as a standalone comic book as well as being a socially relevant tale in today’s age of social media. While the concept of evil remains in X-Men lore, what was told here shows different layers of it. The X-Men themselves also looked fragile and the return of Morph is a key part of the story clearly designed with future events in mind. Finally, this comic book is a lively reminder of the era when X-Men stories were made for the fans, not the woke mob.

Overall, X-Men Adventures Season II #1 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures #10 (1993)

February 7, 2023December 12, 2022carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superheo enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the X-Men Adventures monthly series which was the literary adaptation of the popular X-Men animated series of the 1990s.

If you are a long-time X-Men fan who enjoyed the comic books and the movies, then the cover of this particular X-Men Adventures issue that has Rogue on it should remind you of the mutant cure concept portrayed in the 2006 movie X-Men: The Last Stand. In the said movie, it was Rogue who went out to have her mutant powers neutralized so that she can live a normal life and no longer worry about absorbing another person’s life force.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures #10, published by Marvel Comics in 1993 with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by Andrew Wildman.

Early story

The story begins with the arrival of Cable outside a private home in the Swiss Alps. Inside, Warren Worthington (Angel) and Gisela spend quality time together by the fire. They talk about a certain Dr. Adler who is a genetics expert that Worthington sent to Scotland to conduct research.

Suddenly, Cable breaks into the place and points his gun at Worthington looking for Dr. Adler. While talking, Worthington reaches for a gun and fire it at Cable. The huge armed mutant then grabs Worthington by the head and throws him out of the home and into the snow. In response to Cable’s question, Gisela mentions that Dr. Adler has gone to Scotland. Moments later, Worthington (in his angel form) flies back into the house to protect Gisela from whatever harm Cable could do to her.

Over at Muir Island, Professor X and his long-time colleague Dr. Moira MacTaggert discuss the facility and research done there. Xavier mentions that the core of the research done by the mysterious Dr. Adler. Moira states that Adler is not officially part of the research center and he simply pays for everything he uses there.

After failing to meet Dr. Adler inside his research office, Xavier conducts a mind probe which causes a series of stake images enter his consciousness. The experience was so intense, his telepathic inquiry got disrupted abruptly. Professor X then decides to contact the X-Men…

Quality

*Rogue goes through a lot in her pursuit to become normal.*

Let me start with the concept of Rogue’s pursuit to cure herself of her genetic mutation…compared to the 2006 live-action X-Men movie, the plot in this literal adaptation of the X-Men animated series episode makes more sense and is more believable to follow. Without spoiling the identities (note: to find out who they are, read this comic book), I can say that there are sinister forces behind the genetic works of Adler within the Muir Island facility. The Adler operation is just part of a grand scheme that the sinister forces have been working on and Rogue’s involvement was a surprise addition. More on Rogue’s pursuit of getting normal, what was portrayed in this adaptation was nicely structured while also cleverly avoiding the “doing it all for the sake of love” cliché. In short, she made her pursuit not for her romance with Gambit but to really change her life significantly, even if it means losing her membership with the X-Men. Through her actions, you will feel Rogue becoming desperate and reckless to be normal.

Apart from the tale of Rogue, the X-Men meanwhile have been handling themselves without Professor X and Cyclops clearly carries the responsibility of leading them all. As for Charles Xavier, his departure has been explained and incidentally he has gotten close to danger even though Dr. Moira MacTaggert is with him. The writing in this adaptation is filled with suspense, surprises and intrigue which were nicely executed with concise timing.

Conclusion

*Charles Xavier makes contact with his team from far-away.*

X-Men Adventures #10 (1993) is a very good read. Anyone who saw the half-baked mutant cure aspect of the 2006 X-Men movie will find the Rogue tale here more satisfying to read. This is definitely Rogue’s story with some spotlight shared with the X-Men, two other mutants who served as opposition for Rogue, and the sinister forces I mentioned. This comic book is actually the first of two parts focused on Muir Island and it certainly is a really satisfying reading experience on its own.

Overall, X-Men Adventures #10 (1993) is 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. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. 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 Adventures #11 (1993)

January 3, 2023December 31, 2022carlocarrasco

In this retro review, we take a look at the adaptation of the animated series’ own portrayal of the Muir Island saga from the comic books. Also there is Rogue who desired to have her genetic mutation cured, even though it means removing her super strength, flying ability and her dangerous touch.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures #11, published by Marvel Comics in 1993 with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by Andrew Wildman.

Early story

The story begins with Rogue emerging from the rubble of a facility on Muir Island. She remembers that just moments earlier, Pyro and Avalanche ruined the facility just as she was about to get cured by a man she knows as Dr. Adler. She leaves the place searching for those responsible for the ruined facility. She fails to noticed that she is being observed from a distance.

Elsewhere on the island, Pyro and Avalanche open a bag believing Dr. Adler is in it. To their shock, Mystique is the one who emerged and she reveals to them that she was just posing as Dr. Adler as part of her mission to lure mutants into taking the treatment not without realizing the truth that it will turn them into slaves of the one entity she serves…Apocalypse. Pyro explained that he and Avalanche hoped to hold Dr. Adler for ransom.

At a nearby cliff, Cable quietly watches using his rifle’s scope…

Quality

To put things clearly, this one is pay-off to what was built up in issue #10 while also serving as the continuation of a multi-part story regarding Muir Island. In the previous issue, Rogue desired to become a normal individual which is why she went to Dr. Adler on the said island. In this comic book, the direction for Rogue took a drastic change fighting Pyro and Avalanche not knowing that Mystique is involved and secretly working to help her master Apocalypse execute his ambitious plan of gaining capable and controllable slaves from the mutant population.

The good news here is that the script is very well written and the narrative is really strong. Very notably, the superhero spectacle got clearly ramped up by several notches resulting in lots of action scenes as well as opportunities for Andrew Wildman to flex his artistic muscles making some dynamic action-packed images for readers to enjoy. Along the way, there is some suspense built-up related to the sub-plot within (note: Cable’s limited appearance here as well as the Jean Grey and Cyclops reuniting with their mentor Charles Xavier) as well as the Muir Island saga itself.

Indeed, this comic book has lots of spectacle that superhero enthusiasts will enjoy but still the Macchio-Wildman team managed to maintain the core themes of the story for readers to absorb and think about.

Conclusion

*Dynamic action of Rogue taking on Pyro.*

X-Men Adventures #11 (1993) is a very solid read from start to finish. Even as the narrative has lots of action scenes presented, the story still managed to maintain focus on the themes of sacrificing mutation to be normal humans, the temptations brought in by advanced scientific wonders, and the exploitation of people seeking hope and reform a lot. There are indeed moral lessons within this comic book reflect about. This is strong creative work by Macchio-Wildman that X-Men fans and newcomers should read and I can say there is more to come storywise beyond this comic book.

Overall, X-Men Adventures #11 (1993) is recommended!

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures #15 (1993)

December 23, 2022December 21, 2022carlocarrasco

Today is my review about the 15^th and final issue of the X-Men Adventures adaptation of episodes of the 1^st season of the popular animated series. The comic book at hand was the literary translation of the 13^th episode and final episode of season one which was broadcast in March 1993.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures #15, published by Marvel Comics in 1993 with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by Andrew Wildman.

Early story

The story begins somewhere in Manhattan where a riot is happening. It turns out that multiple riots have occurred as a result of the of the recent kidnapping of United States Senator Robert Kelly who established himself as the nation’s most prominent anti-mutant public figure.

Deep inside their headquarters, the X-Men watch live news footage of the riot. Even though they were not involved in the kidnapping of Senator Kelly, Charles Xavier and his team are concerned that mutants like them will still be held responsible. The leader tells his team that they must find the missing senator quickly before the wave of intolerance affects all of them mutants. Xavier then starts using Cerebro which he programmed to search for any distortions in the magnetic field of planet Earth.

Elsewhere, inside a vessel that got shipwrecked along the Atlantic seaboard, Magneto has Senator Kelly as his captive. He tells the politician that he holds the key to the future and that they are in agreement that man and mutant cannot co-exist peacefully. For Magneto, the war for dominance must begin as humans remain weak and divided. Suddenly, a huge Sentinel breaks into the place…

Quality

Being the conclusion of the monthly series based on season one of the X-Men animated series, this comic book’s story packs a lot of stuff, intrigue and some memorable character moments. Thematically, the story emphasizes absolute power, intolerance and instability which got dramatized carefully as the narrative progressed.

For the X-Men, the pressure is tremendous as the stakes have gotten so high not just for them but for all mutants as a population. To fail to save the kidnapped Senator Kelly would cause society to become even more hostile to mutants which could compel the federal government to declare a state of emergency. Complicating matters here is Magneto’s obsession with power in connection with his biggest obsession that mutants are essentially superior over humans and that societies will be reformed – even with violence involved – accordingly. Adding even more the complexity of the situation are the presence of government, technology handlers backed by private financiers, and the one gigantic machine (that produces new Sentinels) that becomes self-aware.

The good news here is that the story is very well written, the narrative does not lose focus and the creative duo of Macchio-Wildman managed to craft a tale that consistently remained engaging complete with ensuring sufficient superhero spectacle for entertainment. As expected, the pay-offs executed for all the build-ups proved to be highly satisfying.

When it comes to characterization, everyone here acts and talks as expected. The team dynamics of the X-Men here make for a cerebral reading experience especially when they have these intense private meetings trying to solve their problems and anticipate what would happen next. The dialogue, filled with varied details, are richly written and yet easy to follow. I should state that having the Sentinels as a force of opposition under the control of a rogue AI added a lot to the stakes involved in the plot. The portrayal of machines acting superior over humans proved to be a unique parallel to the humans-mutants conflict.

Conclusion

*The fictional US Senator Robert Kelly in trouble in the presence of Magneto and a Sentinel.*

X-Men Adventures #15 (1993) is not only a worthy conclusion to the monthly series based on animated series’ season one episodes. It is indeed the best comic book of the said series that I have read thanks to the great adaptive works of the Macchio-Wildman team. The story had these very high stakes raised and ultimately the pay-off to all the build-up were great resulting in great satisfaction on my part as a reader. At the same time, there are certain key plot elements and character elements here that eventually made their way into the first X-Men live-action movie of 2000. The core story is the clear feature while the bonus pin-up section was the fun additive. This comic book is a must-have!

Overall, X-Men Adventures #15 (1993) is highly recommended!

+++++

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