Here are today's "Guest Reviews" by John McCubbin from Imagination Centre. Included are Marvel's; Uncanny X-Men #3, Wolverine #1, and All-New X-Men #9. I have also added my rating after each review. If you have any questions about my rating or want to discuss anything just leave me a comment.
Uncanny X-Men #3 - Avengers vs. Uncanny X-Men Go!
Everything has changed for Magneto in the last few weeks. Can he prove he is still the Master of Magnetism?
Cyclops and the rest of his crew take the revolution on the road gathering up more new mutants.
Preview
Intercepted by the Avengers
I originally wasn't going to get this series, hence the reason I'm reviewing it so late. I did however decide to get it as it had decent reviews, but the main reason was the upcoming Battle of the Atom crossover which features this.
Plot
When the
Avengers intercept
Cyclops's X-Men whilst visiting Tempus' mother, a heated debate about who is in the right embroils, and it becomes apparent that someone is a traitor.
Review
This was a fantastic issue, but it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. Brian Michael Bendis is definitely doing a good job with this series, making it very different from his other X-Men title, All-New X-Men, but I have to say that so far although it's been good, it's still to really find it's feet, with the issues so far being very poorly paced, as well as not having any clear path to go in the future of the series. This issue has however continued to show that although slightly inconsistent when it comes to the overall quality, that Bendis can add lots of drama, making this issue which was slightly disappointing much better. The dialogue in this issue was also superb, as it really livened the issue up during certain sequences, whilst also showing humor in others, which yet again added drama, and kept me as a reader hooked. The emotion that Bendis put into this issue was also amazing, as you could see the passion, and resolve that certain character's had, which was brilliant. It did however lack the action that I was expecting given the way the last issue ended, as although all the drama, and emotion was brilliant, I was hoping for much more action.
The art from Chris Bachalo was once again decent, and although it will never win me over to becoming a fan of his, it does suit this series. There wasn't as many flaws to Bachalo's art during this issue, as most character's were drawn from the right angle, and mainly in uniform. I did however still find the way he drew Cyclops out of costume to be a bit awkward, but it was a big improvement over how he looked last issue, even when out of uniform. I also loved how second, and third page in he had a very bold image, showing the Avengers, and Cyclops' X-Men squaring of, with the character's closest to the edge being larger, but slightly out of frame, and the character's near the middle being smaller, but clearer. This double page panel really added a lot of drama, and suspense, making the opening of the issue that much more amazing, and awe-inspiring. The rest of Bachalo's layouts were also brilliant, once again adding more depth, and drama to the issue, which is something I always love from an artist. Bachalo's colors were once again phenomenal, and although that double page came close to being the best thing about his art, I still feel that it's his colors that are. They add so much life to the series, being very vibrant. They also add the perfect mood, and tone for this series, and although I may never fully love his art, I will probably always love his coloring.
Read the rest of John McCubin's Review on Comic Vine
My Rating
Cover & Solicit - 3/5
Art, Colors & Inking - 5/5
Layout & Flow - 5/5
Story - 4/5
Verdict - 4.3
Wolverine #1 - Hunting Season, Part 1 of 4
IT'S HUNTING SEASON!
The best there is at what he does gets an all-new on-going! Pay attention very closely: there's a mystery here that even Wolverine hasn't sniffed out yet. When Wolverine finds himself the bargaining chip in a hostage situation, he must make a decision to save a little boy that will follow him forever...literally! How can a berserker fight what he can't see? And how far will he go to assert his humanity in the face of the Unknown? Find out when superstars Paul Cornell (CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI:13, Doctor Who, Action Comics) and Alan Davis (AVENGERS, CLANDESTINE, EXCALIBUR, UNCANNY X-MEN) take on the Wolverine!
Preview
It's Okay. I'm a Super Hero
I'm a huge
Wolverine fan, but to be honest I wasn't considering getting any of his new series. This was due to my feelings on the previous Wolverine series, as well as Wolverine and the X-Men, both of which I felt were extremely poor before the start of
Marvel NOW! I have however decided to try both series, but have since decided to drop
Savage Wolverine after Frank Cho leaves, and hope to continue getting this series.
Plot
Wolverine is in a hell of a state, and is trying to comfort a child who's dad is going about killing people.
Review
This was a very good issue, and although it was far from brilliant, it was a good start. Paul Cornell did an excellent job with this first issue, and he has restored my faith in the possibility of a good Wolverine series
(haven't read Savage Wolverine yet), and hopefully he can make this series even better. I loved that it started straight in the middle of the action, and although I didn't like
Age of Ultron doing this, it was easy to understand what happened before the start, with there still being an overall mystery to the situation. I also loved how Cornell wrote Wolverine, as he showed that he was a viscous character, but at the same time showed that he had compassion, and that he cared for the safety of children. I also liked how he added drama to the story, and although nothing too exciting happened this issue, it showed promise for the future.
The art in this issue was amazing. I've loved Alan Davis' art for many years now, and it was him working on the series that finally persuaded me to try it. Everything about the art is fantastic, but the main thing that sticks out is the layouts, as everything looks in a very movie like art wise,and it gives a very dramatic, and dynamic feel. The detail was also brilliant, and although there were small patches of art that lacked detail, it was small images, which can be forgiven, especially considering the rest of the art was amazing. The best thing about the art however was the way Davis drew Wolverine, and naturally that's the thing I'd hope would be brilliant. I loved the way he made Wolverine look retro, looking similar to how he looked in the late 80's, early 90's, even though he's not changed too much since then. The way Davis drew the half destroyed Wolverine healing was also phenomenal, and I loved that it showed enough without being overly gruesome, as although I like gruesome artwork, it can sometimes spoil the overall artwork. The colors from Matt Hollingsworth were also brilliant, and it really added the type of tone, and feel that this series needs, helping make Davis' art look even better.
Read the rest of John McCubin's Review on Comic Vine
My Rating
Cover & Solicit - 4/5
Art, Colors & Inking - 2/5
Layout & Flow - 5/5
Story - 4/5
Verdict - 3.6
All-New X-Men #9
The Original Five X-Men get new costumes!
Series main-artist Stuart Immonen returns!
Mystique makes her big move.
Preview
Welcome to the Danger Room
This has been by my favorite series since the start of Marvel NOW!, and although it's not always been perfect, it has been very entertaining, and fun, as well as being the best X-Men series I have read in years.
Plot
The younger X-Men battle the Sentinels in the Danger Room, plus
Mystique returns, and she's brought
Sabretooth.
Review
This was a phenomenal issue, and one of the best in the series so far. Brian Michael Bendis may not be doing a brilliant job on Age of Ultron, but he isn't half doing a good job on his regular Marvel NOW! series', as both this, as well as
Guardians of the Galaxy has been amazing. There wasn't anything that I could fault story wise in this issue, as it ticked all the boxes, being exciting, entertaining, fun, interesting, and containing plenty of action, everything I hope for in a comic, even though I'd settle for half of that. Bendis also gave some mystery to the issue, having characters question each other, and others doing curious things, but I'll talk more on that later. Another thing that Bendis has done perfectly in this series is handle the younger X-Men. As those who read my review regularly know I was more than skeptic on the idea of bringing the younger X-Men of the past to the present, but that's been the best thing about this series, and Bendis has handled it very, very well.
The art on this issue was fantastic, and I was happy to see the return of Stuart Immonen. Although I've been enjoying David Marquez' art over the last few issues, actually preferring it over Immonen's at times, I am happy to see Immonen back, as I was so happy when I heard he was working on the series to start with, and it's really his series, along with Bendis. Plus Marquez will be returning to
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man soon, so I'll be able to see his art there. The break has really done wonders for Immonen's art, as I felt the last few issues he worked on lacked a bit of detail due to the tight schedule, whereas now it's much more detailed, and overall looks much better, and as good as it looked in the first few issues. I also love how Immonen puts so much emotion into his work, as you can easily tell what the character's feeling. I did however find one sequence when the young
Jean Grey, and
Kitty Pryde are talking telepathically a bit awkward as they still showed body language without saying anything, which would look mighty strange to anyone around at the time.
Read the rest of John McCubin's Review on Comic Vine
My Rating
Cover & Solicit - 5/5
Art, Colors & Inking - 5/5
Layout & Flow - 5/5
Story - 5/5
Verdict - 5
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