X-Men `97, “Lifedeath - Part 2”, Review Part II!

"Lifedeath - Part 2" is a strong episode of X-Men `97 brings the stories of Ororo and Professor Xavier up to date with the events on Genosha! Re:cap - “Lifedeath - Part 2”; the first part of the episode features the war between the Shi’ar and Kree. Deathbird is hunting the Supreme Intelligence with the Imperial Guard. Empress Lilandra has announced her marriage to Professor Charles Xavier! He has recovered from his attack by Henry Gyrich and is now able to walk with the exoskeleton of his armor! This turns to Forge’s cabin where Storm has to struggle against The Adversary. 

Forge is poisoned by The Adversary’s bite, but he is able to save Ororo by driving away the demonic force with magic! The story continues adapting Uncanny X-Men #186 (1984) by Chris Claremont and Barry Windsor-Smith. She catches Forge as he falls, he gasps that he learned desert magic from his mother, in the comics it was from the shaman Naze. Storm thinks the grimoire of Forge’s mother might have a cure for the poison. He says there is a cacti, the midnight cholla, that has aloe with magic. 

Forge says he can show her the way to caves that has the midnight cholla. He tells her he doesn’t want to be alone and die when Ororo is gone. She tells him that they will both ride to the cave. At the Shi’ar palace, Empress Lilandra and the Royal Consort are announced to cheers. They both walk past Gladiator, leader of the Imperial Guard, and take their places at their thrones. The Chief Advisor Araki (Gavin Hammon), he questions the timing of the royal wedding with the ongoing war. His feather-like hair reminds me of Hawk from the sci fi show, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. 

Flying in, Deathbird, has contempt for Xavier, the Terran. It was tough to face the hate as a mutant, now as a human?, it doesn’t make sense since Xavier proved himself saving the universe twice. A late version of royal alien sisters as rivals was in New Teen Titans with Starfire and her sister, Blackfire. She thinks his homeworld is “inferior.” Xavier counters that he and empress decides on alliances. Deathbird says Xavier wants Earth to be the Shi’ar throne world. She tells the High Council that she calls for the Rite of M’Dashaa. He knows the rite is a “test of loyalty” for non-Shi’ar to marry royalty. He says he already passed it. 

Deathbird says it will be her own test and that he must erase all memory of Earth! She adds that Lilandra has to be the one to take away Xavier’s memory before flying away! Xavier is regarding two statues and joined by Gladiator who tells him that they are Shara and K`ythri. These gods were former enemies who married to bring peace to the galaxy. Gladiator says that idealism is insanity. Charles says that this is like Magnus. Lilandra enters, then says that if she gives up the throne, her sister would be a brutal ruler. Xavier says she saved him so he will sacrifice for her and they kiss. 

Storm rides with Forge slumped behind her, but he sees their destination, Snowsnake Tower. This is a butte that rises from the desert. They enter the cave and Forge says that Union soldiers stored weapons there. It was actually built during the Plains War. Bats flutter past them. Forge says he heard The Adversary says to Ororo to let him die. He says that it feeds on “self-loathing” which is what he shares with Storm. Forge starts coughing and then shows her the tight mine that she needs to crawl in. Ororo stares feeling her claustrophobia! 

Xavier is in his armor, kneeling, for the Rite of M’Dashaa with Lilandra standing above him. Araki asks him if he will give up his memories of Earth and the X-Men. He pauses and then Deathbird is furious walking up to the guards. She questions Xavier’s inferior blood. A councilwoman says he is not even a true Terran, he’s a mutant. Deathbird says Lilandra has turned insane like their brother, D’Ken. Lilandra declares her sister has commited sedition and orders Gladiator to stop her! He knocks her out with one punch and then uses super breath on her soldiers! Deathbird slashes Xavier’s leg with her claws and then attacks he sister. Araki leaves. 

Professor Xavier removes his helmet and then uses his full telepathic power saying, “Hear me. Class is now in session!” They are all at school desks about to be schooled in the astral plane! Xavier in his suit bites an apple. Ororo crawls through the tunnel holding the pen light in her mouth. It is a struggle, but she finds the glowing midnight cholla through a crack in the rocks. She starts to climb, but slips down and pen light plunges down! Storm hears The Adversary as it starts to crawl around the tunnel towards her! I can’t believe Sealy-Smith voices both parts! 

Ororo hears it’s words of doubt and promise of her “daydream”, but then begins to climb. She tells The Adversary no, wind starts to howl down the tunnel!, a storm batters Snowsnake Tower with lightning. Storm says that it is an echo of herself. The power fills Storm and she says, “For I am lightning!” Storm sends the lightning at The Adversary and it bursts out of Snowsnake Tower with owl feathers! A satellite is by a swirl in the clouds. Out of it flies Storm, Mistress of the Elements, transformed in her outfit from Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)! I would really like to see that costume designed by Dave Cockum in live action! 

Ororo flies back to Earth and flies amongst a herd of horses. She flies through a canyon and then she sees her reflection in the lake. Storm forms several waterspouts from the lake and her eyes crackled with her power! The animation is sophisticated rendering these scenes. Night at Forge’s cabin, Storm says she is grateful to the demon and then applies the cactus paste to Forge’s wound. The dark poison withdraws from the paste. He wonders if they will go to a tropical island and then Storm switches on the news. Trish Tilby reports on the “Tragedy in Genosha” and the mutants are told that they can return to their “home countries.” 

Rumors are that this is the start of a war, Ororo gasps!, and then Trish speaks about Professor Charles Xavier. He is speaking at the astral plane about power. Charles asks where the Shi’ar Imperium gets its power. Deathbirds leaps up and it is from “inferior minds” like the professor. He gives her a demerit, funny!, and an apple in her mouth silences her! Xavier tells his class about the “stolen worlds” taken by the Shi’ar and force them to bend the knee. Charles concludes that their empire is a “snake oil racket”, critical, though thy may not understand the reference. Araki brings up the Terran expression, “Might makes right.” 

Xavier counters that it should not be one person becomes great at the cost of another. This is really at the heart of any conflict. He poses the question about how made up these rules. Lilandra admits it is all of them. Aaki says his ideas would cause chaos with the Shi’ar. Charles admits that “co-existence” is difficult and finds teaching and the heroism of the X-Men to be inspiring. He says that everyone is made of stardust, Carl Sagan said, “The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff”, and that they are “children of the atom”, a term also used for mutants. The globe on his desk wildly spins and then sets on fire. He sees his class as skeletons! Gambit rises and then fades into a skeleton! Xavier screams, his dream is lost. “Lifedeath - Part 2” has two romances that are dramatic and collide with the Genosha invasion! 

Five Sentinel Blasters out of Five!  

#XMen97, #LifedeathPart2, #ChaseConley, #CharleyFeldman, #AlisonSealySmith, #GilBirmingham, #RossMarquand, #MorlaGorondona, #CariKabinoff, #DavidErrigoJr, #ToddHaberkorn

X-Men `97, “Lifedeath - Part 2”, Review Part I!

Re:cap - “Remember It”!; Magneto, Rogue, and Gambit traveled to the mutant nation of Genosha where they see Nightcrawler! There is also Madelyne Pryor and the rest of the Interim Council. This includes Sebastian Shaw and Emma Frost from the Hellfire Club. They ask Magneto to be leader. At the X-Mansion, there is tension between Jean Grey and Cyclops, they have been distant since baby Nathan was given to Bishop into the future! Genosha, Magneto has asked Rogue to be his queen and she relates to Gambit about falling for Magneto before she was an X-Man. He could cancel her mutant power to absorb memories and abilities. At the ball, Gambit leaves when Rogue and Magneto kiss during their dance. Madelyne starts to see flashes of images and her nose bleeds. Rogue leaves Magneto. 

Madelyne stumbles out of the ball and Cable rushes in saying to her, “He’s coming!” She realizes he is her son, Nathan, all grown up. A dramatic moment even with time travel and the sci fi part. He is drawn back to the future. Then, an explosion tears apart the ball, a distortion of images and sound! Rogue recovers and throws off a piece of rubble. Magneto is also there and they find that it is a Sentinel!, the Wild Sentinel which first appeared in New X-Men #114 (2001) part of the “E is for Extinction” storyline. It is about to blast them, but Nightcrawler bamfs them away. He has fallen from escaping the blast, but alive. Shaw is down as well as Callisto who has died! Gambit says the “Godzilla Sentinel” is too powerful and the Morlocks are trapped at the bay. Val Cooper tries to evacuate civilians. 

Magneto assaults the Wild Sentinel to give time for Rogue and Gambit to save the Morlocks. He says they do not want to live wondering if they could have saved more innocents. The material here is very mature and hints at Schindler’s List (1993). Gambit races on a motorcycle with both Rogue and himself taking out Sentinels dropped by the Wild Sentinel. Magneto’s fight with the Wild Sentinel sends him knocking over a statue of Charles Xavier onto Genoshan mutants! He sees the images of the casualties and flashes back to his childhood. Magneto screams out, “They shall be avenged!” He sends out a tram as a flail to bash the Wild Sentinel.

The Morlock survivors include Erg with an eyepatch, Ape, both debuted in Power Pack #12 (1985), the multi-colored hair woman, Tommy, introduced in Uncanny X-Men #210 (1986), and Leech. He tries to inspire confidence with Magneto’s promise to him. They are detected by the head of a Sentinel, it smashes though the window, and Gambit drives a staff into its head to the return of the theme song! He leads them out, but Magneto is thrown into a car past them! The Wild Sentinel detects the Omega-level power of Magneto. Leech is by Magneto who creates a shield around the Morlocks from the Wild Sentinel’s blast! Rogue tries to help, but she and Gambit are lashed to a pole by Magneto. She pleads with Erik, but he seals them in a metal sphere. A final blast, Erik says in German to Leech, “Do not be afraid”, and the Wild Sentinel has eliminated the Omega-level threat!

Rogue breaks free in tears and flies towards the Wild Sentinel. Gambit rides his motorcycle and then charges it up to knock away Rogue. The Wild Sentinel charges up to blast Nightcrawler and the other mutants. Gambit leaps towards it with his charged up staff and then is stopped. The Wild Sentinel has ran its pincer through his side! The Wild Sentinel drags him in front of it and says he is neutralized. Remy says his name is Gambit, charging up the entire Sentinel through the pincer, and then finishes his catch phase, “Remember it.” Then an explosion that devastates the city. The smoldering city is seen on the television at the X-Mansion. Cyclops shouts that he wants to know how many were lost. 

At a crater, the young mutants we saw at the beginning see Rogue holding the body of Gambit, we feel her tears as she says, “I can’t feel you.” It is all animation, but very powerful, more so than the live action movies and comics. “Lifedeath - Part 2”, we hear the thumping of drums before we get the title sequence. The episode is directed by Chase Conley who also directed Ep. 2 and 4 which was the first part of Lifedeath. The writer is Charley Feldman who cowrote Ep. 3 and 4. We see Forge in X-Men uniform! Nightcrawler is added! We see the Sentinel, Nimrod, blasted by Bishop. Xavier kisses Lillandra before the final sequence. It begins with a space battle, Shi’ar ships against Kree. 

The Shi’ar with bird-like hair first appeared in X-Men #97 (1975). The Kree were seen in X-Men: The Animated Series season three episode, “The Fate of the Phoenix” (1994). After the attack on Genosha, the change in setting dramatically lightens the load a bit. A Kree ship is breached by Deathbird voiced by Cari Kabinoff who returns to the part after “Promise of Apocalypse” (1995). She is seen by Ronan the Accuser (Todd Haberkorn) who is seen for the first time in X-Men animation. He was introduced in Fantastic Four #65 (1967). An explosion heralds the arrival of the Imperial Guard from Uncanny X-Men #107 (1977). They were also in “Fate of the Phoenix” and counterparts to DC’s Legion of Super-Heroes. Ronan is smashed by Gladiator (David Errigo Jr.), the version of Superboy. They are hunting the Supreme Intelligence. 

This is interrupted by an announcement by Deathbird’s sister, Empress Lilandra (Morla Gorrondonna). The messenger (Errigo Jr.) activates a hologram of Empress Lilandra. She explains that a Terran man, also a mutant, was saved by their healers. She tells the assembled Shi-ar that he saved the univese from her brother, D’ken, defeated in “Orphan’s End” (1995), and stopped the Phoenix. Then, Lilandra announces her marriage, we see walking to the balcony, the golden armor of Professor Charles Xavier! This gets Deathbird to smirk. At the gardens, we see Kymellian gardeners, this is the pale horse-like aliens from Power Pack #1 (1984)! 

A great introduction, I can’t wait to see Power Pack in a series or film, they were part of the early Marvel plans for the MCU. Lilandra tosses seeds to exotic plants, knows he wants to return to his “children”, his X-Men. She says he can invite them to the wedding through a holo-globe. Lilandra helps him take off his armor which helped him to walk. Yes, the X-Men should be able to function by themselves, but he left abruptly without telling him he recovered. This shifts to the owl over Forge’s cabin which picks up after episode four. Storm looks after him recovering on his bed from The Adversary’s bite in its demonic owl form. 

She tries to break out of the cabin, but The Adversary keeps her trapped. The situation makes sense since Storm would have no way to find out about what happened in Genosha. The Adversary wants her to let Forge die from its poison. Storm becomes sealed in a coffin with The Adversary trapping her inside. Claustrophobia has always been the childhood fear for Ororo. The face of The Adversary says her words to Jean about thinking about living as a human. It shifts into the evil faces of the X-Men and says she already rejected them. She falls next to the capsule and Forge charges in to face the Weaver of Lies with his magic! The Adversary is sent away and Forge collapses into Storm’s arms! The sixth ep of X-Men `97 has the dual troubled romance of Xavier with Lilandra and Storm, a change of pace from the heaviness of last ep!   

Four Sentinel Blasters out of Five! 

#XMen97, #LifedeathPart2, #ChaseConley, #CharleyFeldman, #AlisonSealySmith, #GilBirmingham, #RossMarquand, #MorlaGorondona, #CariKabinoff, #DavidErrigoJr, #ToddHaberkorn. 

Outlaws of Thunder Junction Review!

Howdy pardner and Magic player! The lastest Magic: The Gathering set from Wizards of the Coast, Outlaws of Thunder Junction, has hit the deserts and game stores with a new Western-themed plane! It was released on April 19th with boosters, collector boosters, Commander decks, and bundle sets. The world of Thunder Junction reminded me of a fantasy version of the cartoon, Bravestarr. It is also similar to the steampunk/horror Western roleplaying game, Dead Lands, (there already is a card game based on it) so much so that I thought Wizards should have licensed it, but Thunder Junction stands on its own with mechanics and world. The description of the set is called “frontier fantasy.” 

The Omenpath arc that started with Wilds of Eldraine is finished with this set. Omenpaths are ways to travel across the different planes of Magic: The Gathering multiverse. We get a look at the Thunder Junction world in the “It’s Good to be Wanted” trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2McuaOFVvuE. The storyline starts with Episode 1 An Offer of Revenge, check it out at: https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/magic-story/episode-1-an-offer-of-revenge. It follows the outlaw and planeswaker, Oko, who is a fae shapeshifter. Oko was a thief introduced in Throne of Eldraine. He has gathered a team to enter a legendary vault in the town of Tarnation, home of the dreaded Hellspurs gang. There is Kellan, the Kid, a Human Faerie Rogue, introduced in Wilds of Eldraine. 

Annie Flash, the Veteran, a Human Rogue, she debuted in this set. Vraska, the Silencer, is a Gorgon assassin, snake-haired like Medusa. She was introduced in Return to Ravnica (2012). Rakdos, the Muscle is a Demon Mercenary, from Murders at Karlov Manor. Tinybones, the Pickpocket, is a tiny Skeleton Rogue introduced with Outlaws of Thunder Junction. The other members of the team includes Breeches, the Blastmaster, a Goblin Pirate introduced in The Lost Caverns of Ixalan. His teammate also from the same set is Malcolm, the Eyes, a winged Siren. Gisa, the Hellraiser, a Human Warlock who can summon Zombie Rogues! She first appeared in the horror themed Innistrad. They are all seen in Wanted poster versions of their cards which makes them especially collectible. I didn’t get any Wanted cards in two Bundles. 

The Story Spotlight cards feature parts of the adventures of Oko and his outlaws. The only rare card is in Episode 2, Annie takes “One Last Job” working with Okko’s gang to find the key that will open the vault. They find it on a train along with the scholar, Nolan, in a train heist. Next in Episode 2, Kellan uses his “Mythical Tether”, a common card, to hold the train and evacuate passengers. In “Seize the Secrets”, another common card, the mysterious Ashiok takes the location of the vault from Nolan’s mind. Episode 4, after getting the map of Tarnation, Okko begins to “Plan the Heist”, an uncommon card. The last part, Episode 6, features the uncommon card, “Betrayal at the Vault.” Then, we have “Getaway Glamer”, uncommon, that involves Kellan. 

The new mechanics are fun, outlaws include cards from past sets; Assassins, Mercenaries, Pirates, Rogues, and Warlocks. The Mounts like "Trained Arynx" are a great mechanic, they have abilities when saddles, Saddle takes 2 mana and lasts until end of the turn. When you target an opponent or whatever they control is commiting a crime which activates many game effects! Some of the crimes like “Murder”, “Destroy target creature” has cards that have Breaking News cards that has artwork from the newspaper, Prosperity Post. Very funny are creatures like “Holy Cow” and “Loan Shark” which have use in the game. There is also the “Resilient Roadrunner” and “Cunning Coyote” as nods to Wiley E. Coyote and Road Runner! After I opened the second Bundle, the cards just became piles of extras after twelve packs or so, the collaltion is weak. Outlaws of Thunder Junction is an excellent Magic: The Gathering set has a Western style in a M:TG world that have you round up a posse of players!  

Five Thunder Rifles out of Five! 

#OutlawsOfThunderJunction, #MagicTheGathering, #Omenpath, #AnOfferOfRevenge, Oko , #KellanTheKid, #AnnieFlashTheVeteran, #VraskaTheSilencer, #RakdosThe Muscle, #TinybonesThePickpocket, #BreechesThe Blastmaster, #MalcolmTheEyes, #GisaThe Hellraiser, #OneLastJob, #Mythical Tether, SeizeTheSecrets, #PlanTheHeist, #BetrayalAtTheVault, #TrainedArynx, #BreakingNews, #HolyCow, #LoanShark, #ResilientRoadrunner, #CunningCoyote 

X-Men `97, “Remember It”, Review!

X-Men `97, "Remember It", builds again another dramatic episode weaving classic characters and storylines and taking X-Men to cinematic storytelling! Re:cap - “Motendo/Lifedeath - Part 1”; Jubilee’s eighteenth birthday goes awry, the game, Motendo has taken her and Roberto to play like Tron. She discovers an ally, Abscissa, an older version herself as the last beta tester model! They team up to defeat the villain, Mojo. 

In Texas, the mutant inventor, Forge, has taken Storm to his cabin. They go out for a horseride and Ororo sees a circling owl. Forge shows Storm the invention he is working on to restore her mutant power. They pass a photo of Forge with his X-Factor teammates. They were introduced in “Cold Comfort” (1995), the season three episode of X-Men: The Animated Series. 

X-Factor #1 (1986) brought the original X-Men and the new team seen with Forge debuted in X-Factor #71 (1991). He worked out a problem when they were out riding and shows Ororo a chamber. She takes a deep breath, enters the chamber, and Forge has her try to use her weather power. Ororo calls the wind at the night sky from the cabin’s balcony. There is no response and she falls to her knees in tears. 

Later, Forge is working on a bracelet, he tells Storm that the didn’t have the money to build his inventions after the war.  The Defense Department funded his inventions if he built the inhibitor collar, the very device that led to Storm losing her powers! He says a scientist in Scotland, Moira MacTaggert, used his designs, but he said he left the government by that time. Ororo says he is a liar. Forge takes her in his arms and says he loves her. She slaps him. Ororo takes her horse into a rain storm. Demonic eyes appear and she falls back to the cabin, shattering a chair.

Forge runs to her and the broken roof reassembles! An owl demon appears and bites his shoulder! It first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #188 (1984). The demon (Sealy-Smith!) knows Ororo’s mental state. The Adversary feeds on despair! Interestingly, The Adversary plays into the recent Captain America storyline. It holds Ororo in a nightmarish world.  “Remember It” begins with another FC News report by Trish Tilby. Emi Yonemura is the director. She previously directed ep. 3. The writer is executive producer, Beau DeMayo, he wrote and co-wrote the first five eps.  

She interviews Beast and then walks the X-Mansion grounds. Next, she talks to Jubliee who casually mentions the threats she has faced! Trish then moves on to note that the UN has admitted Genosha. We see a number of mutants on the streets of Genosha including Glob from New X-Men #117 (2001), a pinkish blob covering a skeleton, the fairy-winged Pixie who debuted in New X-Men: Academy X #5 (2004), both recent mutants, and Leech, the child Morlock from Uncanny X-Men #179 (1984). It is a utopia. 

The Blackbird flies overhead and the mutant kids see it from a monorail. It is piloted by Rogue next to Magneto with Gambit in the passenger seat. They are cheered by the Genoshan crowds with signs including “Magneto is Right!” On the landing pad is Madelyne Pryor and Val Cooper. Rogue greets Madelyne. She is told that the Interim Council wanted an X-Man on their board and Madelyne volunteered. 

I really like this moving on from Madelyne, the Genosha era was well past her introduction, whom really didn’t have a place in the comics. Magnto was invited by the UN. Madelyne takes him to speak with the council. Then, there is a BAMF! with the appearance of Nightcrawler (Adrian Hough)! He last appeared in the X-Men: The Animated Series ep, “Bloodlines” (1996). Kurt was with the new team introduced with Wolverine in Giant Size X-Men #1 (1975). They eventually became friends. He filled the function of Morph in the show as a light hearted, but also tragic character.   

Kurt Wagner says he will act as Rogue and Gambit’s guide around Genosha. Madelyne says he joined the council to work on faith matters. Gambit brings up the “killer monks” from their first encounter in “Nightcrawler” (1995) that retold his origin. Nightcrawler teleports them to the market where we also see the mutant kids. Nightcrawler says it is a home. 

Still, Utopias always have to have defenses from all matter of threats, internal and external. Gambit says the $10 apples are too expensive. Singing begins and the Multiple Man who first appeared in Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4 (1974), and former member of X-Factor dances. Dazzler tops it off with her mutant light show! Genosha is a paradise like Wakanda, a place I would like to visit IRL. Nightcrawler teases Gambit about Rogue and says he should marry her. I love this convesation in the middle of the ep. 

At the X-Mansion, Cyclops is interviewed by Trish about being team leader, then she changes the subject to Marvel Girl, Jean Grey’s old code name. We go to Breakstone Lake, underneath it, Jean Grey has parted the waters to check globes of her memories. Wolverine joins her. She says that Scott still hasn’t talked to her over giving up baby Nathan. Shouldn’t it have been Madelyne who gave birth to Nathan? 

Jean thinks back to when she was possessed by the Phoenix, this is intercut with Scott’s interview, she tells Wolverine that he was distant the even with their psychic rapport. She says she wanted to leave as the Phoenix, but took off his visor holding back his optic blast and his eyes had her stay. She kisses him! If there is a love triangle and Madelyne is exactly like Jean…? Wolverine leaves her. Trish brings up his baby which Cyclops denies, but she has seen the birth record. He gets frustrated angry at the doctor and humans like Trish whom he says are ungrateful. 

On the Interim Council is Sebastian Shaw (Travis Willingham), former leader of the Hellfire Circle!, Callisto (Courtenay Taylor), leader of the Morlocks, Banshee, and Moira MacTaggert (Martha Marion). Magneto wonders why he was asked to the council and then we hear from Emma Frost (Marion)! The mix of hero, ally, and villains makes me think of the Quiet Council of Krakoa that was introduced in House of X #6 (2019). 

Emma disputes the place of Moira, a human, on the council. Madelyne backs Moira acting as chancellor. Emma wants Magneto to act as a “poster child king.” Moira says Charles Xavier wanted him to be leader of Genosha. He thinks back to his first meeting with Charles telling him about his dream. We see the ice melt in a closeup of a cup, great visual. Madelyne says Xavier would say, “Time to dream bigger.” 

Rogue is angry at Magneto who wants to make her queen. He holds out his hand to Rogue. Jean consoles Cyclops and asks him about Nathan, he says he sees him everywhere, and they kiss. Suddenly, Jean’s psychic voice yells at him! They are projected into the astral plane with Jean’s face towering over them! This startles Madelyne at the council. Manipulated by Emma Frost? Jean is angry at his rapport with Madelyne. 

Scott admits that he was checking in on her for a month, in secret basically, she tells him to go to Genosha. This is while Trish is interviewing Beast! Jean runs out and Scott tries to explain that Madelyne is the mother of his baby. Wait until he finds out about Rachel Summers! They argue and then a psychic burst strikes Jean! In Genosha, Gambit gets ready in a fancy tuxedo, and Rogue flies down. Tears start to fall and then she tells him when she ran away from her father. Her mother showed her to a man who could help her, Magneto! 

She says how he told her about eventual mutant life with art, painted a portrait of her with several brushes. A real May December romance. Rogue says his electromagnetic powers protected him from her touch. We see Magneto struggling with nightmares as Rogue watches him in bed. She left him and joined the X-Men, Magneto wanted her to stay with her new family, so they pretended their relationship never happened. 

Gambit throws his Queen of Hearts card into the fireplace. Rogue says she can never touch Gambit, he sheds a tear, and says they will just be friends. A very personal moment, this show is very mature for animation. Fireworks burst over Genosha Palace. Magneto enters the ball in his dress suit. Val Cooper interrupts Magneto’s talk with Shaw and Emma. 

Shaw tells Val that he accepted leadership only if Rogue were on the council. She enters in a red dress. This reminds me of the recent Hellfire Gala. They start to dance to Ace of Base’s “Happy Nation” and Gambit walks off. Hope and heartbreak. Magneto and Rogue kiss. Madelyne's nose bleeds and she goes out to see Cable (Chris Potter) shout a warning, but he is too late! “Remember It” is an incredible episode of X-Men `97! 

Five Sentinel Blasters out of Five! 

 

#XMen97, #RememberIt, #EmiYonemura, #BeauDeMayo, #LenoreZann, #AJLoCascio, #MatthewWaterson, #JenniferHale, #RayChase, #CalDodd, #HollyChou, #TravisWillingham, #MarthaMarion, #AdrianHough, #Nightcrawler, #GeorgeBuza, #CourtenayTaylor, #ChrisPotter, #DonnaJayFulks 

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #3 Review!

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #3 is the confrontation of Selena, Kimberly, and the other Rangers! Re:cap - Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #2; Kimberly Hart has given up on the life of a Power Ranger even after meeting with former Rangers, Billy and Zach. At her remote cabin in Canada, Emma Phillips, encounters Selena, a relative of Trini. The issue began with the fateful last battle that ended up with Pink and Green Rangers versus Rita Repulsa. She was stuck by the arrow of Pink Ranger’s Power Bow. The malfunctioning Benevolator was detonated by Tommy, Kimberly’s husband, and the others returned to the command center. Suddenly, Selena shows her true self, now with white hair and carrying Rita Repulsa’s wand. They hear a car drive up and Kimberly desperately reaches for her Power Morpher, but is knocked out by Selena! 

In another stunning cliffhanger, the mysterious person is Kimberly’s daughter! The cover cover of the third issue is by Goni Montes had has an almost surreal transformation of Kimberly’s daughter using the Power Morpher with her mother behind her! “Daughter” is written by Amy Jo Johnson and Matt Hotson with art by Nico Leon. We close in to the shattered piece of the moon, the battlefield and former palace of Rita Repulsa. Putties are carrying wheel barrels of rubble towards a Moon Palace under reconstruction. Detailed visuals with the pieces of the moon in orbit and the city lights seen on Earth. Kimberrly slowly comes to consciousness with Jason’s scarred and bearded face checking on her. Behind him are Zach and Billy. 

Kimberly wonders where they are and her answer comes from Selena! Great battle stances of the older, but still ready to fight Rangers even in their civilian clothes. Selena casually says this is her birthplace while she sits on the broken stone throne. She tells them that she is Selena Repulsa! Kimberly attempts to throw a punch at her, but it is only strikes a forcefield! Billy realizes that Selena tracked them by their Power Coins. Selena says it was easy to find them since they used their Power Coins. We see a lock boxes at a bank. She was the person watching them in the rain. A bank employee takes out Trini’s box that had her Power Coin. Then, Selena reveals that her mother will kill them! Kimberly is stunned that Rita survived her arrow. Billy puts together that Rita escaped into the Morphin Grid. 

Selena explains that Rita used her magic to move her “essence.” Now, she says she has found a way to bring her back, with the help of a bearded, half-blind Finster! Selena tells the Rangers that he hid from the blast in his vault. He survived on “sustenance” until found by Selena. Zach realizes that Finster ate his dead monsters as sustenance! Finster reveals his newest invention, the Morphin-matic, using his Monster-matic with Lord Zedd’s staff and the last of his magic clay. Selena shows them that it is powered by the coins! Jason says they are ready to take on Rita again. Kimberly asked how Selena survived and is told that her mother used magic to transport her to Earth! We see the last moments as the Rangers returned with Tommy about to activate the Benevolator and then hears baby Selena!

Baby Selena crawls over to the fallen Rita. Tommy is shocked. Finster calls for Selena and then calls for Putties when he sees Rita. Tommy is holding Selena when a Puttie socks him, he falls back, and hits the Benevolator switch! Finster is terrified. The clock runs down as Tommy fights off the Putties. He takes off his comunicator and Selena activates it transporting her to Earth. So technically Tommy saved her. Tommy fights off the hordes of Putties, tears fall down, and then he hears Rita! She reaches out with her magic and then the timer runs down! It fades to black. A mystery of what happened to Rita and Tommy! Police officers Skull and Bulk (!) are walking in a park when Selena is transported.  Baby Selena reaches out with tears in her eyes, even a baby, she’s adorable. They carry Selena away leaving behind the communicator. 

Now Selena is ready to take over the Earth. She checks on Finster who only needs a blood relative. Finster activates the Morphin-matic. The machine hums, the Rangers are ready to take action, and we get a closeup of Kimberly’s eyes as she says things will be okay. The machine crackles with power and closeup of Selena’s eye as she says she can sense her mother. Then, the Morphin-matic sputters out. Finster says that there is something else taking power from the Morphin Grid. Selena says she has taken all five Power Coins. Kimberly corrects her that there are six coins! Tommy’s coin! We have the last time with Tommy and Kimberly together. He gives her his Morpher, Kimberly transports back, and he says she will know who she will give his Morpher. This is intercut with an agonished Kimberly holding his Morpher. Powerful. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #3 is a mix of dramatic moments, character expessions by Leon, and another ending that just gets me cheering wating for the next issue!  

Five Power Coins out of Five! 

#MightyMorphinPowerRangersTheReturn, #AmyJoJohnson, #MattHotson, #NicoLeon, #KimberlyHart, #TommyOliver, #BillyCranston, #ZackTaylor, #TriniKwan, #PowerCoins, #PowerMorpher, #Benevolator, #Bulk, #Skull, #SelenaRepulsa, #Finster, #RitaRepulsa, #Morphinmatic 

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Review!

The Ministry of Ungentlemany Warfare is a sleek spy/war/action/comedy from director, Guy Ritchie! He directed and co-write the war film, The Covenant (2023). The film is written by Arash Amel, who wrote the action movie, Hidden Strike (2023), Eric Johnson, and Paul Tamasy, who both co-wrote the war film, The Outpost (2019). It is “based on a true story” that was detailed in the book, Churchill’s Secret Warriors (2014) by Damien Lewis. In the Atlantic Ocean, we find two men, Gus March-Phillipps (Henry Cavill) and Anders Lassen (Alan Ritchson) on a sailboat. Cavill was recently in this year’s spy comedy, Argylle, and with this film has covered the spy territory so well, James Bond would not be challenging. Ritchson plays the lead role in the action series, Reacher. A boat of sailors boards the ship to inspect it. 

The captain orders his white uniformed Nazis to inspect the ship down to below the deck. He asks Gus and Anders to put up their hands and Gus laughs. There is a hint of wildness in Cavill's portrayal of Gus. One Nazi begins pushing a false wall. This reveals Henry Hayes (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) who machine guns down the sailors. Tiffin appeared as Santo Ferreira in the historical drama, The Woman King (2022). The captain gets his throat cut by Anders and with Gus manages to kill the Nazis. This is done so smoothly, Anders is vicious, that the violence feels casual. Ritchson is a standout as a calm man who gets completely berserk when killing Nazis. Anders playfully puppets the body of the captain to wave at the Nazi ship. It begins to blast cannons at them, but miss the range. 

Out of the sea, Freddy Alvarez (Henry Golding) appears in a wet suit and says he has set explosives on the ship. Golding was in the action movie, Assassin Club (2023). Freddy is confident of his explosives as another cannon burst splashes in the sea. Then, the ship erupts in a massive detonation! The group is introduced and we get “25 days earlier.” There is Nazi bombs dropped over London when a report made to Brigadier Colin Gubbins (Cary Elwes), known as M. Elwes played Denlinger in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023). The report is on Hitler’s secret weapon, the Nazi U-boats, they have been cutting off ships from the U.S. The focus is to cut off the u-boat supply chain with the Italian ship, Duchessa d’Aosta. It is currently at the Spanish colony of Fernando Po. 

At Special Operations Headquarters, Gus is led into a room in chains, also there is M’s assistant, Ian Fleming (Freddie Fox). Max Bassington starred in Ritchie’s series, The Gentlemen. Fleming is of course known for creating James Bond. M tells Gus about Opeation Postmaster. This operation is difficult since it involves different nations and boundaries. Gus is introduced to Agents Heron (Babs Olusanmokun) and Marjorie Stewart (Eiza González). Olusanmokun played Jamis in this year’s sci fi film, Dune: Part Two. Auggie Salazar was portrayed by González in the sci fi show, 3 Body Problem. Heron owns a casino bar and Stewart is an actress and singer. Their target is Heinich Luhr (Til Schweiger), the SS commander. Schweiger played another Nazi officer, Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz, for the Inglourious Basterds (2009).   

#TheMinistryOfUngentlemanlyWarfare, #GuyRitchie, #ArashAmel, #EricJohnson, #PaulTamasy, #HenryCavill, #AlanRitchson, #AlexPettyfer, #HeroFiennesTiffin, #HenryGolding, #EizaGonzalez, #BabsOlusanmokun, #CaryElwes, #FreddieFox, #RoryKinnear, #TilSchweiger 

Rook: Exodus #1 Review!

Rook: Exodus #1 takes us to the dying world of Exodus and the Warden, Rook, as he works to survive and escape it! Rook debuted in Ghost Machine #1 where we were given the summary that a farmer made a new life on the terraformed planet, Exodus. There Rook wears the helmet of a Warden that can control animals in his case the crows. He was running from a sabretooth tiger along with Swine, another Warden who controlled warthogs. They were salvaging a wreck but end up leaping a cliff into a river. Swine says that Dire Wolf wanted to build a community, but all Swine wants to do is build an escape rocket. A gatefold cover by interior artist, Jason Fabok, has Rook with his pistol surrounded by crows, a launching rocket, then on the other page, Swine’s helmet, between the covers is the helmet of the villain, Ursaw, and then Dire Wolf with her staff. 

Creators, Geoff Johns and Fabok, return for the first issue. A page shows Planet F of the Kepler System renamed Exodus. It was colonized by the Better-World company on 2159 and the Earth Engine failed on 2170. The planet was evacuated the next year. A great splash page of the planet with scattered wreckage around it. It is now 2173 and we see a rocket ship at a landing pad surrounded by crows. More text explains that Exodus was abandoned with only the workes left stranded on the planet. The rocket engines blast sending the crows flying away. It starts to climb into the sky and starts to break atmo, but its tail shatters and explodes! The rocket crashes as we are told that the climate is changed back to its earlier form becoming hostile to life! This is seen in a closeup with by the binoculars of the former farmer. In a splash page, we see Rook surrounded by the crows. 

Rook tries to contact Swine through his Warden helmet, but just gets feedback. An armored, all-terrain vehicle rolls up to the crash site. It has the profile of the Tumber from Batman Begins, with a plow in front. His ally has had his warthog, Pumba(!), finding a ship crash. Rook finds the ship’s pilot who is skewered by a sharp piece of the ship. He sees from the pilot’s uniform that he was a Weatherman that looked down on the Wardens. Rook takes out his first aid kit, but the bearded pilot shows him some files that he doesn’t want burned. The pilot hands Rook the files before he dies. Rook sends away the crows from the Weatherman’s body. He hears a growling and then turns to see a roaring bear the size of a Sequoia tree! I like the sci fi threat of the bear. Rook leaps out of the way and begins shooting at the Kaiju-sized bear. Rook is tossed back by the giant bear claw. 

He takes out a knife and begins slashing at the head of th bear until it falls. Then, finally!, uses his Warden helmet to have the crows attack the bear in a swarm out of The Birds! They peck its incredibly tiny eye, about the size one of the crow’s heads, scale problem. The bear is driven off. Rook senses the need of the crows to eat and sees the body of the Weatherman. Gruesome, but next Rook explains that he buried the body. Rook drives away in his vehicle and at a dried up river, crows feed on the dead fish. He heads down a road to a run down fortess city, New Mason. He activates a switch that opens the city wall. Rook notes that the former population was eight hundred thousand. We get a two page spread of the abandoned city, very run down after three years, and there are the ever present crows. 

Rook is the only citizen and in a splash page we see his vehicle driving on the city streets. He removes his Warden helmet, revealing his scarred face, with tousled, brown hair and shaved sides. At his tent, Rook could take any room, he cooks a fish and eats from a can of beans. He says that there is only one way to get away from the crows’ communication. Rook drives over to The Eagle hotel. The p.a. system crackles its greeting. He walks up the staircase, past rooms marked with red X’s, and then uses his maintenance key to open a room. Rook looks for a bottle of whisky and then crosses off room 333 with his spray paint. It must be painstaking to go through countless rooms! Rook drives over to The Long Way Home theater to watch a black and white movie, the title refers to a 1997 documentary, that ends with dialogue about never having left some place. He opens the folder and finds a family photo of the Weatherman. 

Rook keeps the photo on his rocket that he is working on and we see his daily routine as he is starting to get overrwhelmed by the cawing of the crows. He crosses off more rooms getting whisky. Rook goes to the now empty lake with the fish picked apart by the crows. He waits for a rendevous with his friend, a trio of giant warthogs, like the boars in Princess Mononoke, thow him aside to fed on his fish! Swine arrives to help Rook up and orders the warthog, Pumba, from Rook’s vehicle. He finds it difficult to command them when the warthogs are hungry. Rook thinks the problem is the dying world, but Swine says there is some other kind of interference. He tells Swine that they have to leave the planet, but Rook is told that Swine can’t leave his warthogs. Swine asks if the other Warden like Dire Wolf had similar interference problems. Rook says no and Swine has bottles of whisky to celebrate like when they were in training. 

He returns to his home in New Mason. Rook tries to work on his rocket, but sets off an explosion that slams him down. He flashes back to a farm in Bloomington, Illinois, 2148. A young Rook is working on a tractor and turns to see the crows in the field. A closeup of buttons, he uses them to sow eyes on a scarecrow. Still the crows perch on its shoulders and the boy tries to scare them away. Then, we watches a fleet of ships leaving the Earth and runs to tell his father. His father, who looks like an unscarred Rook, watches television reports of super fires on the West Coast, an earthquake in New Madrid, riots, and an outbreak in New Pyongyang. This is all a dystopian picture of the world like what was seen in the film, Tomorrowland. Then, there is a commercial by the Better-World corporation. A great sci fi set up in Rook: Exodus #1, it is good world building and stong pacing that emphasizes Rook’s character and situation! 

Five Warden Helmets out of Five! 

#RookExodus, #GeoffJohns, #JasonFabok, #PlanetF, #BetterWorld, #Exodus, #Rook, #Warden, #Swine, #Pumba, #Weatherman, #NewMason