So I Read Today… Action Comics #5 (vol.2)

Holy Shit this book is AWESOME!, Grant Morrison is going all out with his retelling of Superman origin in the new 52 universe with the best possible talent he could be pared with. So far in what it was their first encounter Lex Luthor managed to give a beating to a very green and inexperienced Superman, only to have his ass handed to him in retribution. In this new number whoever, Grant makes an interlude and goes back to the moment when Jor-El managed to save his son. The story is very familiar: The house of El a scientist family in Krypton have managed to discover that the shifting on the planet magnetosphere is going to destroy it.

With his warnings falling on deaf hears, Jor-El does what he can to save his family attempting to transport them to the phantom zone, only to find that all the Kryptonian criminals sent there are biding their time and waiting for an opportunity to make a break for it. Seeing how his family is being threatened despise the unavoidable fate of Krypton, Jor-El decides to save his only son sending him in a prototype of the Escape Ark to the only planet that will ensure his survival: Earth.

The boy arrives on the planet to be found by the loving and caring couple of John and Martha Kent who are both distraught for the recent loss of an unborn child. Believing the baby to be an experimental being rather than an alien, they take him home and deliver the body of a dead lamb to the army securing the site. A tale told an untold number of times feels like new again at the very capable hand of Morrison with the masterful pencils of Andy Kubert. In the new DC Universe everything old is new again. Enjoy it while it last!

So I Read Today… Ultimate Comics: X-Men #6

I have say that the Ultimate line of books received a whole new breath of fresh air after the relaunch lead by Hickman, Spencer and Bendis. The books reads the same way when they where first launched, with fresh takes on existing characters, Ultimates and Spider-Man have been the best so far for me, but it wasn’t until this issue that X-Men got my attention. Since the relaunch, the characters on X-Men have been direction-less, is more like a group of whiners lamenting about having their world turn upside down by the fact that the mutant gene was man-made thus rendering the race card useless and making every mutant a regular superhero. the fact that Johnny Storm is now a part of the team reflects on this new reality for mutants in the ultimate universe.

The X-Men are no more, they ceased to exist the moment Charles, Cyclops and Wolverine died in Ultimatum, there’s only a band of brats running around saving their fellow mutants. The numbers of the race has been diminished, but there are still enough out there to warrant prevention. That’s the role that accommodates two sides of the same coin, at one side Quicksilver is acting as advisor for the white house offering tecnology to gather mutants for an unknow porpuse. at the other side there is William Striker, a mutant with the ability to talk to machines, complete control over sentinel technology and a penchant for killing other mutants in a zealot religious crusade.

The twist is revealed in this chapter. A figure from the past comes again to establish the X-Men as a force to be reckoned. But is he willing to live with the humans that have almost wiped out his race or he’ll change his ways to ensure the survival of mutant kind? guess we’ll have to read to find out. And I’ll keep doing so as long as Nick Spencer Writes, Paco Medina Illustrates and Rex Locus colors this tale of intrigue.

So I Read Today… Kick-Ass 2 #6

Holy Shit this book is violent!. Don’t get me wrong this is not a bad thing, at least not from my point of view. The second series started a little slow but it only took a couple of issues to get this story going. The Red Mist is back in town, this time calling himself “The Motherfucker”. He’s used all his father resources and cash to set up a society of super villains composed of real-life goons and mercenaries. This guy is going to get payback in any conceivable way and does what every man with resources would to hit his nemesis. His killing spree affects everyone close to Kick-Ass.

Hit-Girl stands in the sidelines because of a promise made to his foster father, but when the blood hits the river for Kick-Ass in way too familiar for her, she goes back to action doing what this 12 year old girl knows how to do best: she kills, she maims and she destroys everything in sight that has event the intention of looking wrong at his friend. The Motherfucker is not a man to go down easy, so he sets up a big downfall for New York with his cadre of supervillains, just to be confronted by Kick-Ass, Hit-Girl and every costumed freak in NY with delusions of grandeur waiting to be a hero, with the best line ever told in an independent comic book: “Avengers Fucking Assemble Asshole”.

Mark Millar has delivered a really good follow up to the original tale, he has upped the ante my making the characters go to the very extreme on his actions, John Romita Jr.’s breakdowns are complemented beautifully by Tom Palmer’s finishes and ink washes. There’s one more issue to go for this series, but I already can tell you to go and read this one whole, because it’s one of the best comics out there right now.

So I Read Today… Justice League #4

I have to admit that so far, for an origin tale, Justice League has delivered in spades. We have some well done characterization for classic characters making them a lot more younger than we are used to, and it has offered a new center for the leadership of the group. That responsibility falls on Geoff Johns new favorite character: Aquaman. The King of Atlantis made his introduction to the team last issue with an arrogance that had to be backed up with power and in this new issue he shows just how powerful he actually is. (Sorry I don’t want to spoil it yet, go and read it. I bet diamonds against rocks that you’ll get a kick out of it).

Meanwhile the team gets to know Cyborg who completes his transformation in this very issue and has us still wondering why the origin of this character had to be tied to the Justice League in this new universe. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s still very cool, since the book is very well written. We also get the introduction to main antagonist of this first arc, who is none other than Darkseid making his first full appearance in the DCnU, in the space of two pages he wipes out the team and leaves us hanging in a cliffhanger that makes you wish this tittle was bi-weekly.

I’m not gonna lie to you, this comic is awesome! Is epic in scope, it’s beautifully illustrated and so far, even if the characters feels brand new, the tale has a very classic tone to it, you are not reading this book yet? what are you waiting for!!?!? 

So I Read Today… Batman: Noel

What could more appropriate for this time of the year than a Batman Christmas tale? An adaptation of a classic Charles Dickens tale for Batman sounds even better!. Taking a cue from the classic “A Christmas Carol” we see the Dark Knight taking the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. Batman used to be a centered crime fighter with a caring view of human life, even the one of his enemies until a fatal accident takes away his partner Robin. He becomes into a brooding, ruthless vigilante willing to use another human life as bait not caring about the consequences of his actions.

This way of thinking is taking a toll in his body and his mind as he receives a visit from the deceased Robin heralding three visitors, persons who will help him gain perspective again, dismissing the call as a side effect of a bad flu, he goes on the hunt, just to receive exactly what Robin foretold him on his vision, the great twist here however is seeing who are the special persons in the life of Batman who represent the three ghosts and how the lifetime they have shared with him help him know more about the world outside of the life he has chosen to follow with his non-stop mission. I could say more, but I would spoil the surprise and I really want you guys to read this, since is pure comic book gold.

Batman: Noel is beautifully written and drawn by Lee Bermejo, the same guy who penciled the award winning tale “Joker”, very few times I get to say this, but this a comic you should buy with your eyes closed, it’ is just great, hell If i had kids, I would show them this!

So I Read Today… Avengers: X-Sanction #1 

Not one to lose the momentum of an event, Marvel releases the mini series that sets everything in motion for the big event of the next year (Avengers Vs X-Men, in case you’ve missed the announcement). The big hook meant to drawn your attention of course is the return on Cable, who we saw die an heroic death at the end of the Second Coming story arc defending his “daughter” Hope Summers; Cable find himself at the ends of times with a familiar face that tells him that even though he’s dead his mission is not over and he has to defend Hope against her greatest enemies: Earth Mightiest Heroes, The Avengers!

Cable is a soldier and as such he’s willing to use whatever means he has at his disposal to make good on his mission. The price of coming back was a heavy one for Cable though, the techno organic virus that ravages his body has advanced more and more and now it covers most of his face and body. This matters not to the soldier, he has a mission to accomplish and he’ll take The Avengers down, one by one, starting with The Falcon, his next target is a man who knows a thing or two about soldiers: Captain America. What will happen between these two warriors? Guess we’ll have to read to find out!

This prelude to greater things is brought to you by the capable hands of Jeph Loeb, Ed Mcguiness, Dexter Vines and Morry Hollowell. This issue made me think about an article that was pointed out to me online a few months ago. I’ll share my point of view with you, of course you all are welcome to differ. It’s not been even two months since “Fear Itself” ended and Marvel is getting ready for his next event already. A lot of the online community tend to be very bitter about this, since most of them just want a good story told in a proper book without having to buy hundreds of issues just to get one story, but history has proven time and time again that these events sell like hotcakes, a comic completist (the few of them left) will get them no matter what and the casual fan usually tends to check them out, it seems that in the comic world, the more things change, the more they stay the same, simply because even though a very vocal minority know what they want from their comics, the numbers say a total different reality. Is this good or bad? I don’t know… But I know for sure that sales are what keep comics afloat and they’ll do what works in order to get sales.

So I Read Today… Uncanny X-Force #18 

I always find myself with a warm fuzzy feeling inside when a comic takes me for a spin, specially when it features old acquaintances like the cast of Uncanny X-Force. The Dark Angel Saga started in #11 of this book early this year, after a few delays and creative moves the arc is done is this recent release. And man, this was awesome. The storyline began with a premise that was being handled since #1 of the book, co-leader of the team Warren Worthington III is fighting a losing battle against his demonic self, the Horseman of Death Archangel, after killing the newly resurrected Apocalypse in his child form in the first arc of the book, he’s slowly turning into his former master.

The team with no one to turn since they are not supposed to exist, asks for help to the most unlikely ally: AoA Henry Macoy, a.k.a The Dark Beast, Who promptly sends the team to his own timeline to retrieve the life seed, an instrument that can kill the Archangel persona in Warren. Dark Beast’s plan however are more nefarious. All he wants is for Warren to fulfill his destiny and use the forces of the life seed to power the science complex of the World owned by Fantomex and reset the evolution in planet earth.

Let’s just say that the team must overcome this challenge with the most unexpected allies, but also the only they could count on: The AoA X-Men make a come back just to see their numbers heavily diminished in this war, we learn the final fate of most of these characters and the implied return of one of them to our timeline. The Dark Angel Saga is an amazing read, if features more double-crossings than an entire season of Melrose Place and some of the heavy hitters actually get taken down for good, leaving the final resolution of this conflict in the most unlikely of hands, trades are being released for this right now, you should read them!.

So I Read Today… Origin (2001)

Before The X-Men and even Professor X, once upon a time there was The Howlett Estate. A place build on tears, or as least that’s what the locals said about it, the life of the Howlett family was surrounded by mystery up in the hill, and the day by day in the plantation was only brightened by the presence of three kids: James Howlett, the young son of John Howlett, heir of the estate and a very ill boy, Rose, the companion of James brought after her parents died of the influenza to take care of him, and Dog Logan the son of the Estate’s Groundskeeper, Thomas Logan. Life was good for the first two, but Logan had to deal with his drunk father who beat him viciously every day after getting drunk.

As they grew older, things changed, James became a young man but still suffered from various illness, Rose became a very beautiful young woman and Dog who grew strong and resilient noticed this, they day came when he made advances towards Rose and she rejected him, James informed his father of this and hell broke loose on the Hill.

Thomas Logan, the father of Dog was trow out of the estate, fired after his son killed in cold blood James little Pet. It was not long after he returned on a rampage intent on taking away Mrs. Elizabeth Howlett, mother of James and who supposedly had affections for him and all the valuables he could find, instead he finds John Howlett making a stand, the arrival of James starles Thomas who kills John in cold blood.

It is revealed on this moment that the young, little and frail James it’s far more than the sick boy he’s always seemed to be, sprouting three little sharp bone protuberances from each hand he maims Dog and kills Thomas revelaing his true nature and unleashing his inner animal for the first time.

This is the origin of Wolverine, the best there is at what he does. It was a tale with 30 years in the making and it was so beautifully planned and executed that ramifications from it can still be felt today in the character’s adventures. It was brought to you by the talents of Joe Quesada and Paul Jenkings on the writing and Andy Kubert and Richard Isanove on art. You read me, now go and read this. It’s damn well worth your time.

So I Read Today… Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect

As dystopian futures go, this one is pretty bleak. Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect was released in 1992 by Marvel Comics. the concept was conceived by one team of creative powerhouses that made sure to give you one of the best tales about the characters of all the time. Peter David writes, George Perez draws and Tom Smith colors. In this special miniseries of two numbers presented in a deluxe format of 50 pages each we get a horrible future were humanity has made their best efforts to wipe themselves out, after two more world wars all the heroes are dead and the major cities had been erase out of the face of the earth, the only one remaining is Dystopia where you can get anything you want for the right price. The city is a putrid feast of lust and vices ruled over by The Maestro.

A resistance however, is taking place. The movement needs unlikely allies to defeat The Maestro and they find one in the present era Hulk (the 1992 version of the characters was known as “Smart Hulk” having merged all his personalities into one). When the resistance makes their move, The Hulk finds out just who The Maestro truly is and wonders how can he defeat an opponent with his same strength, abilities and 90 years more of experience. Since brute strength alone can’t do the trick, the battle resort to smarts and wit from both, in the end the overconfidence of his enemy is what makes this battle a win for the jade giant.

Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect is one the greatest reads you can have featuring this character, it’s a solid tale in-continuity of what could happen if Bruce Banner ever should allow himself let go of his humanity, and along “Days of The Future Past” a glimpse of what Marvel’s future could be. Most of these tales have caught up with the times, but Future Imperfect still has a long way to go, be sure to check it out, it’s a hell of a tale.

So I Read Today… Uncanny X-Men #1 (Vol.2)

After the schism Cyclops and Wolverine had their biggest fallout in history. With Cyclops going more hardcore in his methods to preserve what’s left of mutant kind as a species. Wolverine realized he wanted no part in that anymore, so he parts ways with his longtime partner to re-open the Westchester School, while Cyclops remains in utopia to defend mutants with the newly formed “Extinction Team” composed of heavy hitters like Emma frost, Colossus (now with the power of Juggernaut), Magik, Namor, Danger, Hope, Storm and Magneto. The purpose of the team it’s to protect humanity but also to show them that Mutants are taking a stand against those who would harm them.

This book was the only Marvel comic lacking a renumbering, but even with the big #1 plastered on the cover, it feels pretty much business as usual for this team, it has a very different tone to his sister book and that suits it just fine. Since more of these characters are long time X-Men and not a bunch of amateurs, they deal with a world class crisis on this first issue. The return of a villain long thought dead doesn’t come as a surprise for them since all of the characters in this line-up had been dead at some point, the ruthlessness of the main antagonist however it’s almost ripped off a modern DC book.

The artwork and the writing on this relaunch are flawless, you can never lose with Carlos Pacheco handling art chores, Cam Smith inks does a fine compliment to his pencils. Kieron Guillen words does an excellent job making these characters sound experienced, this is the X-Men handling world threats. These are the X-Men that are out there to plant a middle finger to the world and take action protecting their numbers. This is the X-Men showing off how the teachings of Charles Xavier are paying off, school is out for this team, it’s time for action for all of them. Pick it up, read it, If you love the X-Men, you’ll want to know how it goes for them now!