X-Men Legacy #247 "Age of X" Chapter 5

Well folks Age of X is heading toward a conclusion and this issues sets up  next weeks' big finale in New Mutants. But how does Chapter 5 compare to the previous chapters? Prepare to find out!

The issue starts off  with several things happening at once: Cannonball is waiting for the Human Forces to arrive with his troops, Gambit and Legacy have found the universe in a shoebox, Magneto is knocked out under a pile of rubble and Moonstar Cadre is about to throw down with the Force Warriors. 

Legion and Dani banter and Legion tries to crush his dear ol Dad with a giant steel rod, but Kitty is with him and the two phase out of it. Meanwhile Gambit and Legacy meet the culprit behind the Age of X....Moira. Yes Moira McTaggert is the culprit...but she's dead in 616? How is this even possible? We'll you'll find out very shortly.

We then jump back to outside the Fortress where Basilisk and Cannonball are arguing about what to do since the enemy hasn't shown up today.  Basilisk pretty much says too much odd shit has been going on, fuck fighting im going to find some answers. Cannonball tells him to stay but Basilisk leaves and so do the rest of the mutants leaving Cannonball alone. Lots of people have been calling for Sam to get a bigger leadership role in the X-Men. Many see him and Dani as the next leaders of the X-Men, but if Age of X is a reflection of his leadership...well then its obvious Sam has more growing to do. No another thing to note is that so far all the things i've talked about so far were released in preview that came out on the 7th of April. 

We jump back to the Cadre vs the Warriors and there at a stare down. Betsy asks Dani if she and her crew if they think they can honestly beat them.  Dani says its the only option she has. Magma, who i think has one of the best redesigns in AOX, warns Hellion she's got her eye on him. Hellion argues that he could stop her heart with a thought, but Magma says not if he's flash fried and she got a magma blast ready if he flexes when of his metal fingers. Now folks, I throw this question out to you: who would win in a quick draw fight Magma or Hellion? Magma's got a blast ready, but is she quick enough to beat Hellion? All Hellion has to do is think and she's down. I wish we could have seen how this would have gone down but Legion stops everyone by shouting and that SHE told him that Xavier would turn them against each other. Stand-Off (Unuiscone) asks him who warned them and Xavier says to him to tell them to whose tune they're all dancing too. 

We then switch to Moira holding Gambit and Legacy at Gunpoint. Gambit uses a card to disarm Moira but Moira says she created this world and therefore she is God. And God is omnipresent.She then knocks the two out. Back to the Cadre and Warriors. Legion asks who Xavier is and Chuck explains who he was and who the X-Men were. He uses his telepathy to show Legion one of their previous memories and then says he will explain everything to everyone. The Cadre and Warriors agree to listen and Kitty takes Xavier to Magneto's command room. Dani then suggests that one of the Warriors bring Magneto seeing as they knocked him out.

Xavier meets up with the whole AoX crew and says explaining  who they really are would take to long so he instead decides to show them. You know what this means kiddies? IT'S FLASHBACK TIME!

One week ago on Utopia, (Legacy #244) Dr. Nemesis and Charles were arguing over the procedure Nemesis has preformed on Legion by wiping out many of Legion's personalities. Charles begins to argue that Legion  is subconsciously adapting and making countermeasures to Nemesis's procedure. Nemesis wants proof and so Xavier dives into Legion's mind where he finds that many of the personalities have vanished...and not from the surgery ether.  Turns out that that in response to Nemesis's erasures Legion's mind has created a giant psychic antibody that has claimed to have eaten the other personalities. It tries to attack Chuck, but you don't mess with Chuck in the Psychic Plane, unless your name is Nate Grey, he'll whoop your ass. The Antibody decides to play dirty and uses the face of Moira against Chuck. "Moira" then uses this moment to attack absorb and create the Age of X. 

Some of the Mutants find it hard to believe that their world is fake and its only been around for Seven Days. Legion doesn't believe him and X/"Moira" agrees. She then reassures Legion that everything will be ok. Chuck says that despite Legion being the hero he always wanted to be...its still just a dream and one that's splitting at the seams. "Moira" starts to flip out and then says its time to pay for listening to him. Nightmare looks outside and sees dozens maybe even hundred of Exonims headed their way and that they've broken through the wall are coming down. 

And that's all she wrote. We'll get the Age of X Finale on the 27th and see how the X-Men will survive the Exonims' assault as well as the wrath of "Moira". But there are also some questions that still need to be answered: what happened to the Basilisk/Wolverine team up? And who/what the hell is Revenant? 

Mike's writing this is good, not great or terrible but good. Most of the issue is exposition so while things happen they really don't feel like things are happening. Clay Mann's art is awesome as always so nuff said in that regard. 

Overall Chapter 5 of Age of X is a little bit of a step down compared to the other chapters. It was predictable in only an OK way. But it's still an average issue so it gets a solid 7Gs out of 10.

Daken: Dark Wolverine #8 "Collision" Chapter 2

Two weeks ago "Collision" started off with a bang! Will Chapter 2 follow suit! Find out now!

Unlike Chapter 1 which was told from X-23's POV; Chapter 2 is from Daken's twisted POV. The issue picks up right where Chapter 1 ended with Daken and X-23 following off a building and starring each other down.And Daken looking at her eyes. He wonders if those are his father's eyes, his eyes...but then quickly banishes the thought and says they are nothing alike. Wanting to be the one in power he offers X-23 his hand and tell her she needs him and more importantly the information he knows. X-23 says no and leaves. Daken watches her go and then Tyger pops out of the shadows and tells him that they're starting to get Madripoor under control.

Daken says its not his concern but Tyger's. And too a point he's right. He put Tyger in charge for a reason, he didn't want to deal with all the shit, he just wanted the power. So he tells her she can quit if she wants too but won't because she loves the city. He then bounds off into the night and begins to quote verses from William Blake's poem "The Tyger". Little bit of Marvel trivia folks, Tiger Tyger's real name is Jessan Hoan and took the alias Tiger Tyger from the poem, hence the whole "Tiger Tyger Burning Bright" line.

Daken then meets up Colcord and say's he's got some splaining to do. Turns out that Daken has been funding Colcord under the pretense that Colcord would help Daken reach new levels of power. And it turns out that Colcord has been doing some other things with the money like the healing serum. Colcord says some stuff and says that X-23 would be the perfect test subject. Colcord asks Daken to protect him and Daken says he will...but Madripoor is a dangerous place. Then...BOOM!

A kinetically charged car explodes and Gambit and X-23 swoop in for their prey. Daken says to take them and he knew that she was following him but X-23 says he only knew because she let him and he's easily deceived. Now I'm finding this hard to believe this comment. X-23's good but Daken has decades of experience on her, yes it has made him cocky beyond belief BUT I find X-23's comment to be a stretch. She might not show it and express it verbally but I believe X-23 has a hidden ego and pride in her abilities that might make her think she's all that.

X-23 then begins to torture Colcord by using her claws to pry off Colcord's fingernails. Meanwhile Daken and Gambut begin a awesome fight in the rain. The two flirt and then the two come to blows. Gambit smacks him around with his bo staff and charges Daken's arm and blows it. They also discuss Gambit's moral compass and how Gambit will betray a friend at the top of a hat and he will end up betraying X-23. The banter between Gambit and Daken is just as good as the fighting. But as Gambit lays a beating on Daken Daken smirks and say's he should have paid more attention to X-23. 

Turns out that Daken gave Colcord a needle filled with some vile that has knocked out X-23. Gambit goes to help but Daken cheap shots him and Colcord sarcastically gives his thanks. Daken says he should be thankful that he even gave Colcord the needle. Colcord asks for a car and Daken calls for one and the two throw X-23 in the trunk. And that mien friends is where Liu & Way leave us till the 27th. 

This issue wasn't as good as the first and I had expectations for it. I was hoping for some more musings about his opinion on X-23 but alas we didn't get very much. But in typical Daken: DW fashion we get multiple back-stabbings. It seems that Daken might be leaning to siding with X-23 and Gambit because he mentioned once in the Prelude and once in this issue that he's given Colcord too much. We have two issues left so it should be fun to see how things play out. 

I loved the art on this book, it really set the mood. Mark Checchetto did the art and Frank D'Armata did the colors. It was very dark and noirish and i loved how they made the rain feel organic during Daken and Gambit's brawl. 

Overall I give Daken: DW #8 7Gs out of 10. It's not as good as Chapter 1 but its still a very solid issue.

Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #1 Review

What kind of Godzilla themed blog would I have if I didn't review a Godzilla comic! For many Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters was a long time coming. And although it had come on the tail end of arguably the bleakest time for the nation of Japan. 

The issue opens up with some Japanese kids playing on the beach and one of them pretends he's a monster and crushes his sister's sandcastle. (EPIC FORESHADOWING) Then after the two argue a tail flops out of the water and in a scene most likely inspired by the classic 1962 Mothra vs Godzilla, the Big G himself busts out of the sand and goes off to do what he does best: destroying the landscape of Japan. The military tries to stop him but conventional weapons don't work. SO they try nukes...well they don't work ether. Instead it grants Godzilla his signature nuclear breathe ray. The Japanese respond with the very appropriate, "You Have to %$@#!ING Me!" Then Godzilla returns to his stomping grounds (see what I did there) and does what he really does best: destroying Tokyo.

The issues ends with a tired Obama learning about the situation and uttering, "You Have to %$@#!ING Me"

This issue is simple and so damn awesome!  The star is Godzilla and writers Eric Powell & Tracy Marsh understand this. Godzilla takes center stage and really that's all that we as Godzilla fans want. Human characters be dammed! Phil Hester's pencils are great and complement the writing exceptionally well.

All in all who am I to give Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #1 nothing short of 10Gs out of 10! This is a must read for any Godzilla fan.

Daken & X-23: Collision Prelude & Chapter 1 Review

Today true believers you get a super special awesome two reviews for one deal! Today we will discuss and muse about about Daken: DW #7 and X-23 #8 which are the Prelude and Chapter 1 of their crossover called "Collision".  About two years ago during the X-Men/Dark Avengers we got a cover that teased that there would be a clash between Wolverine's long lost son Daken and his teenage female clone Laura. Needless to say their battle was pathetic and it ended up with Armor and Pixie coming in to help take Daken down. Flash forward to last year's C2E2 where it was announced that both of Wolverine's kids would be getting their own solo series, and with Marjorie Liu solo writing X-23 and co-writing Daken: DW with Daniel Way, most fans knew it would be only a matter of time before the two crossed claws. A little over a year later and the much anticipated battle between Wolverine's offspring is about to commence!

Let us first start off with Daken: DW #7 which not only serves as the conclusion of Act II of the "Empire" arc but also serves as "Collision's" prelude.

When we last left Daken, though some manipulating he managed to unleash chaos in Madripoor and then was about to rumble with  Madripoor's de facto leader Tiger Tyger for control of the city. The issue does not open up with the fight but rather with Malcolm Colcord shooting his lead scientist Dr. Metzger  with a 48 hr nano bite virus with an ultimatum to re-create the mutant healing factor...or die trying.

We then cut to Daken and Tiger. Daken offers Tiger the role as his figurehead leader in Madripoor because he wishes to rule from the shadows, just as Romulus taught him when he was a boy.  Tiger agrees too work for Daken, but Daken quickly squashes her dreams of regaining her power by telling her he's got the Police Captain's daughter hostage and that Tiger's Lieutenants Max and Jaz are dead. He does how say that he will provide her new Lieutenants though.

We then flash forward to a warehouse where two members from the big three crime families/organizations are being held. Tiger then shows up in the rafters and tells them she's building a new regime and that they work for her now. But in a scene clearly inspired from The Dark Knight  she tells them there's going to be try-outs. She then tosses down a bag full of swords and has them go at it.

One of the gangsters gets stabbed immediately in the back by his buddy. Now we get an interesting fight, on one hand we have a pair of brothers (Benjamin and Takeshi) and against them is a husband and wife combo(Param and Madhavi)....but one of the brothers has been having an affair with the wife for over a year! So much for bros before hoes. Madhavi goes after Takeshi so that she can be with Benjamin but then gets decapitated Higlander style by the gangster who stabbed his buddy in the back. Param then bashes Benny's head in with a pipe. Wanting revenge Takeshi goes after Param but is stopped by Daken, who whispers in Japanese to live for revenge to him. Daken then tells how Takeshi's mother was killed nine years ago by one Kobus Van Holten. He talks about how his vengeance must be the most calculated and brutal way imaginable, just like how Daken plans to get revenge against Bucky Barnes aka the Winter Solider aka Captain America for killing his mother.

The cops show up and Tiger tells them that they need men, ask Captain Gui. They're shocked to hear this and Tiger tells him that everyone works for her. Daken exits with a smug grin on his face.

We flash back to Colcord and Metzger talking on the phone to someone who turns out to be Daken. It seems he's got some sort of accord with these guys and he nearly guts Colcord when he learns that they recreated the healing factor. Colcord manages to lie his way out of getting clawed, but Daken thinks that Colcord is correct. Daken then asks Metzger when will they start the next phase of tests in which he says immediately just as soon as they get some new test subjects. Metzger's cell phone rings and he hears an unknown voice ask if its him. Daken quickly covers the receiver and asks where the test subjects are coming from. Metzger tells him the docks. We flash to a scene at the docks where X-23 and Gambit have just got off the boat and are about to bust some heads. Daken then narrates that his could be a problem.

A solid issue. Art and writing were good. My only knock was the whole "try-outs" scene.  I give it 7 Gs out of 10.

"Collision" starts up proper with X-23 #8 and its starts up with a bang. The issue starts off with Laura on the hunt, thinking about the past and how she has come to Madripoor to stop Weapon X from reforming. She knows that Daken knows where to find Malcolm Colcord, who runs Weapon X.

Laura then continues the hunt with her traveling buddy Gambit tagging along. A couple of scumbags try to nab Laura for a good time, but her days as a street walker are over and she quickly deals with them and moves on. She gets withing reach of Daken, and comments that he has Logan's shoulders and that the two of them are blood...yet blood does not make family.

As Laura is about to make contact her gets distracted by a group of thugs trying to kidnap a kid off the street. Now there are about two things one should not do or suffer the wrath of X-23: 1) Threaten those precious to her (especially a certain telekinetic) 2) Harm innocent children. After dispatching the kidnappers Laura and Gambit take the kid and eventually meet up with Tiger Tyger.

Tiger, Daken's proxy figurehead, has been doing her best to restore order after the chaos in the wake of Daken's rise to power. She agrees to help Laura and Gambit out and tells them to come to her office the next day. The next day the three 'discuss" X-23's origins as well as Daken and Colcord. Tyger "says" she doesn't know anything and kicks them out. Daken appears out from behind a poster and tells Tyger he's intrigued.

What happens next is probably my favorite scene in the book. Laura orders a bowl of garlic and chili noodles and comments about how she likes it compared to the protein solution the Facility gave her and the fast food she ate with the New X-Men. Its a clear sign that Laura is becoming her own person. 

Just as Laura is about to sit down to her noodles then Daken stops by for a little chat which of course turns into a showdown. And what a fight it its is! It has everything! Laura tackling Daken through a wall, Daken biting Laura in the next, each of then hacking each other into pieces! And then to top it all off both of them fall off a building and get up ready for more! 

And that pretty much sums up Chapter 1. 

 Ryan Stegman art in Chapter 1 is so great that I hope he takes over for Will Conrad. The coloring could be a little less dark but other than that the art is fantasitc! 

 Chapter 1 of "Collision" has so much to offer: action, drama, character growth, humor that it deserves nothing less that 10Gs out of 10!

 I apologize for the lateness in this review. So many things came up but shit happens. This weekend sometime count on having at least "Age of X" Chapter 5's review up and hopefully Chapter 2 of "Collision" as well! 

Till Next Time-The Big G