Redcoat #2 Review!

Redcoat #2 features Simon Pure, immortal, now helped by Einstein as a boy and finds their part in the coming apocalypse! Issue #2’s cover by artist, Bryan Hitch, features Simon Pure coming out of his grave, his tombstone has the dates of his deaths, surrounded by angry men. It is only one part of a gatefold cove that has the ceremony with Benjamin Franklin, young Einstein contemplating, the wry smile of a woman who makes her introduction this issue, and Redcoat running next to faces of other figures from his past. The hapless immortal, Simon Pure, has a habit of running from trouble always in his characteristic redcoat. This includes the Battle of Trenton in 1776. He was in an empty church and discovered a strange ceremony that involved Benjamin Franklin! 

In 1892, a young Albert Einstein digs him up when they are surrounded by cult members with white robes and red hoods exactly like the ritual in 1776!  Geoff Johns and Hitch bring us more of the misadventures of Redcoat! In a splash page we see the face of Simon Pure facing a rifle as Einstein wields a shovel shouting in German, a warning. Then, we get a double page spead, Hitch’s art is always cinematic with redcoat fighting off a number of the cultists with a kick and taking hold of a rifle to swing it! A quick flashback montage as Redcoat explains he is not a crack shot, working out how use his rifle in 1776, misfiing a pistol so it only shoots off a hat from the other gunman in 1841, to the current time! 

This gets a hatchet buried in his torso. Einstein’s shovel has bashed the cultist and knocks away the hatchet that has mystic symbols on it. He recognizes the cult members with a brief flashback, but he doesn’t know the German kid. There was an Australian comedy, Young Einstein (1988), that starred Yahoo Serious. Redcoat mentions that he only encountered one other immortal, “there can only be one”, which must be the mysterious Northerner. Einstein picks up the hatchet to face more of the cultists, but finds Simon has jumped the cemetary fence! He starts to run as gunfire pings on the tombstones. After losing the mad cult, the two are walking and Einstein explains that he stowed away on a ship from Hamburg to Boston. 

Redcoat’s hunger returns even to the point where he is hungry for “roasted foul” not fowl? There is a blue glow on his stomach, but then an explosion! Einstein says that Simon has been cursed with his blood on the hatchet. The axe and Redcoat’s wound are covered with blue flames. His reseach has found that it may lead to a threat to the entire country!  A tain chugs away on tracks as Simon recounts Einstein’s story that he was uncovering magical frauds until he found out his sister, Maja, had a vision. It was of “glowing men and metal soldiers”, Geiger and Junkyard Joe!, and Simon in his redcoat. The last part was of a “young nation burning from coast to coast.” This must be the Unknown War that is running through  The Unnamed titles! Finally, she told him to find Redcoat and says he is “der Wizard”!, Simon is sitting in the cargo car as Einstein looks out the window. 

In a closeup Einstein sees the countryside which amazes him. Redcoat is unimpressed leaning back to relax. Einstein brings up the symbols on the axe. Simon explains that they are traveling to find help from the other “immortal from the old days.” His wound ignites along with the hatchet again! Einstein says that the men that attacked them know only he can stop the coming apocalypse. A closeup of Redcoat’s troubled face as he knows Einstein is right. They reach New York City, we see the streets with horse carriages in the setting sun. Excellent work by coloist, Brad Anderson. This is followed by another long panel of an elegant ballroom with a band, dancers; women in formal dresses, men in tuxedos and then people at dinner tables. 

The figures and architecture have a hint of Art Nouveau, an artistic feat by Hitch! Simon explains in narration that the person who owns the estate and throwing the party is the founder of the Society of Patriarchs. It doesn’t sound like a reputable organization. Simon and Einstein have entered the ballroom. His attention is taken to the elaborate banquet table. He munches on a turkey leg when he is recognized. In a splash page, we see the slick man in a tuxedo calling him “Simon the Impure”, Redcoat knows him as Benedict Arnold! Simon explains in narration that at some point the same ritual transformed the infamous traitor. Benny brings up what Redcoat wants when his attention is taken by a question for Benedict Armstice, interesting alias. 

This is a woman, from the cover image, in a pink ballroom gown highlighted by the ceiling lights and dances behind her. Simon introduces himself and she in turn says that she is Juliet Morgan. Einstein introduces himself as his nephew kissing her gloved hand. She explains that she is daughter of J.P. Morgan, the famous banker of J.P. Morgan and Co. Arnold says he is too busy for Simon and takes away Juliet to dance. Einstein and Redcoat find themselves locked away in a study. He says that Simon’s attention with Juliet is the reason they are in the study. Einstein then brings up his wound, but Redcoat is happy eating a plate of prime rib. Arnold barges in knocking down Einstein, Simon wants him to apologize, but he just steps over Einstein, then Redcoat’s wound flares again! Redcoat #2 has more adventures uncovering Simon Pure’s part in the Unknown War, more fun with twists on historical figures, and Bryan Hitch’s fantastic art!  

Five Redcoats out of Five! 

#Redcoat, #GeoffJohns, #BryanHitch, #SimonPure, #AlbertEinstein, #MajaEinstein, #JulietMogan, #BenedictArnold.  

Last half of X-Men `97, "Tolerance is Extinction - Part 1"!

The second part of X-Men `97’s “Tolerance is Extinction - Part 1” brings the Prime Sentinel battles to the X-Men with surprise twists! Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Cable, were checking the former house of Bastion and found his mother, Rose, along with the entire town activated into Prime Sentinels. Bastion has kept Magneto prisoner and then activated all of the pawns in his scheme to stop the mutants. Reporter Trish Tilby was visiting Beast at the X-Mansion when she becomes a Prime Sentinel. Wolverine fights with her while Rogue is still unconscious from her attack by the Boliver Trask Prime Sentinel. 

A transformed woman walks towards Rogue when adamanatium claws run through her! Trish Sentinel asks why he resists and he says, “Lady, I have six reasons why” with his claws! Nightcrawler corrects him with his three swords, one wielded by his tail, Kurt was always the swashbuckler! He teleports and slashes the Prime Sentinels with style! Nightcrawler looks at Rogue, still asleep, and then combines with Wolverine into a lethal duo! The Prime Sentinels still reform their severed parts with tongues like tentacles and hand blasters. Nightcrawler begins slash and bampfing them away from Rogue. 

Wolverine’s claws sink in one Prime Sentinel and Nightcrawler’s sword running through its back. Slo mo as Nightcrawler begins to teleport him away, all distorted for a moment, awesome scene! A showcase for Cal Dodd and Adrian Hough! The two X-Men pant after the battle and then see the night sky filled with Prime Sentinels! Jubilee races across a rooftop from Prime Sentinels. She uses her firework blast to give her a boost, but falls! She is caught by Roberto who flies her away! A relatively new power for Sunspot since X-Force #28 (1993)! Roberto says he was practicing in the Danger Room to surprise her!

The Blackbird flies through a Storm, Jean uses her telekinesis to attach Cable’s seat belt, he may be a mutant soldier, but his mom still has watch out for him! The Prime Sentinels cripple the jet and the trio escapes in a Porsche! Cyclops weaves it from a canyon to the road. Cable is stunned he has a Porsche!  Still, the Prime Sentinels are about to trap them in a tunnel! Cable kicks apart the roof and starts blasting with his rifle. Cyclops says, “Let’s show these toasters why you don’t screw with the Summers!” His best line. Kudos to Ray Chase! 

Cyclops blasts the way in front, Cable lays down fire for the rear guard, and Jean uses her powers to drive and form a TK bubble to lower them. Explosions and the Summers family ready for battle! This is the action pose that looks iconic! Roberto crashes through the window of his mother’s Humans for Genosha charity party. He transform from his Sunspot body and warns his mother, Nina, about the “killer robots.” The Prime Sentinels see the humans and power down their blasters. They only want to capture Roberto and Jubilee. 

Nina sees the stunned looks of her guests and then asks her son to give up, the ultimate betrayal! Bastion drives up to the open gates of the burning X-Mansion with Prime Sentinel guards and others floating above it. He hears the voice of his mother saying that he saved the world. Bastion is contacted by the hologram of Mister Sinister. He reports that Val Cooper helped Magneto to escape! Bastion says it is too late and enters a portal he summoned. He enters his base to see Mister Sinister holding Val prisoner.

Bastion uses his power to suspend Val in metal. She says at Genosha that she felt deja vu, that things happened again. We see Val freeing Magneto from his inhibitor collar and chains. Inhibitor collars are placed on Roberto and Jubilee before they are taken away. Nina closes the door on them. Magneto has risen into the atmosphere as Magneto knows humans better than Xavier. The Prime Sentinels fire upon Jean Grey’s telekinetic shield. Magneto lowers himself to an arctic place and then radiates his power. Val makes her pronouncement, “Magneto was right”! Great peforrmance by Catherine Disher! 

Magneto says, “Enough”, his only word this episode and his magnetic waves spead over the Earth! Spider-Man reaches a rooftop as New York’s power is shorted! Spider-Man also had a cameo in “The Phoenix Saga, Part III: Cry of the Banshee” (1994). The Silver Samurai sees the blackout across Japan. “The Lotus and the Steel” (1996) episode featured Silver Samurai. A reactor’s power is shut down releasing Omega Red! He last appeared in “A Deal with the Devil” (1996). Above Jean, Cable, and Cyclops, Prime Sentinels fall from the sky! 

In the aftermath, outside of the ruins of the X-Mansion, Wolverine tells Morph that Magneto declared war. Fires smolder on the mansion grounds and the bodies of the Prime Sentinels are scattered around it. A ship crashes into the mansion, Wolverine appears popping his claws, the ship’s pilot removes his helmet. It is Professor Xavier, he puts his fingertips to his forehead, and sends out the call, “To me, my X-Men.” This is so awsome that I’m almost ready to head over to the X-Mansion! Many memorable lines and moments in this last part of “Tolerance is Extinction - Part 1”!  

Five Sentinel Blasters out of Five! 

#XMen97, #ToleranceIsExtinction, #ChaseConley, #BeauDeMayo, #AnthonySellitti, #RayChase, #JenniferHale, #ChrisPotter, #CalDodd, #AdrianHough, #JPKarliak, #GuiAgustini, #HollyChou, #CatherineDisher, #ChrisBritton, #TheoJames  

X-Men `97 #3 Review!

Supervillain battles has divided the X-Men, but we have a look at the past and the future with X-Men `97 #3! Re:cap - X-Men `97 #2; At Dazzler’s concert, the X-Men take on the villains, Nasty Boys, while at the X-Mansion, Jean Grey tells Cyclops that she is pregnant! Returning from the concert, Bishop, Rogue, and Jubilee are ambushed by Siena Blaze! The powerful Hazard attacks the X-Mansion. At a bar, Storm is talking to Wolverine when Sabretooth and the Marauders attack them! 

The team is divided facing multiple threats! Wolverine is pinned by Sabretooth when his teammate, Harpoon, is surprised by Sabretooth behind him. Sabretooh is suprised and Wolverine throws him back! Morph shifts from Sabretooth and in a splash page, he socks Harpoon in the jaw! Todd Nauck provides the cover art for issue #3 which has Rogue daining the powers of Sienna Blaze whil the other X-Men are shocked. Steve Foxe and Salva Espin continue the story exploring missing pieces of the X-Men `97 series! 

The streets of Westchester, New York, a mini-tornado summoned by Storm knocks away Harpoon. I feel kinda bad for Harpoon getting bashed by everyone! Trish Tilby reports on the battle with her cameraman. She is interrupted by herself, telling them to evacuate, they run as Morph shifts back! Morph’s shapeshifting is funny, a contrast to Mystique. He shifts into the Hulk to back up Wolverine who is blocking the calcium spikes of Riptide. The Marauder has his own tornado spinning around his body. Hulk Morph hops off Wolverine to smack Riptide silly! Storm flies overhead while the armored Arclight runs. Storm zaps the street in front of her. 

Wolverine with his claws faces his mortal enemy, Sabretooth! Suddenly, Wolverine is blasted from behind. It is from the rifle of Agent Carl Denti. He was the agent with Val Cooper arresting FOH members in the first issue. Agent Denti tells them his team is there to arrest all of the mutants. Central Park, Rogue struggles the contain the power of Sienna Blaze who herself is weakened by Rogue’s power absorbtion. Gambit goes to check on Rogue while Bishop and Jubilee confront Blaze, but she teleports away before they can blast her! 

Rogue’s full absorbtion weakens most persons unconscious or worse so this is a change. Also, Rogue takes away powers, but Sienna Blaze seems to have her abilities! Rogue is tapped into the Earth’s electromagnetic field, but Gambit reassures her control. He holds her in an embrace, almost romantic, with power crackling around them. Espin’s art is impressive with the violet and pink colors by Matt Milla. Rogue wants revenge, but Bishop says they are grounded with the Blackbird shut down by Blaze. Hazard has renewed his attack blasting at Cyclops at the X-Mansion. He vows revenge on Charles Xavier.

Jean Grey has a telekinetic shield while Beast works at a panel. He activates the mansion’s defenses. This drops panels aound the entrances and damaged areas of the mansion. We see a closeup of Hazard’s eyes blazing with energy. He releases his power blasting apart the mansion gate! Hazard finds though the part so the gate reconnect courtesty of Jean Grey! Cyclops catches her worried about the baby. Beast reports that the mansion sensors can’t detect Hazard and says that Jean’s power must have chased him away. Hank suddenly understands what Cyclops meant about Jean’s condition! 

At the Westchester battle, Wolverine is ready to slash Agent Denti with his claws, but held back by Morph shifting from the Hulk. Denti’s rifle is ripped out of his hands by Storrm’s winds. The winds has Wolverine picking up a scent. This takes Logan back to his memories of his days in Team X working alongside Maverick and Sabretooth. They break into a warehouse of agents selling secets to soldiers. Some great shocked expressions by Espin. They take down the corrupt agents, Logan notices that Sabretooth has knocked away a grenade that explodes in the face of an agent, Denti! I like the origin of Denti's scar, but he doesn't seem aware of Sabretooth's role in it. This enrages Wolverine in the present who now recognizes Denti! 

They are tossed by Arclight’s shockwave! Sabretooth leaves with the other Marauders in an armored van. Wolverine closes on Denti when a helicopter brings Val Cooper. She is angry that he is on an unauthorized mission. Val says that there is no hostilities with mutants now and Denti allowed the Marauders to escape. She apologizes to Storm for his actions. Denti’s badge is taken away and he is taken away while he vows to contact the Friends of Humanity (FOH). The team returns to the X-Mansion and Jubilee hugs Morph. He playfully shifts into Sabretooth and Wolverine is not amused. They update each other and Jean tells them about the new baby. I really like the happy expressions of most of the X-Men at the news. Foxe is able to balance multiple battles and characters while bringing the story up to date with season one of X-Men `97! 

Four Sentinel Blasters out of Five! 

#XMen97, #SteveFoxe, #SalvaEspin, #ToddNauck, #MattMilla, #Cyclops, #JeanGrey, #Beast, #Rogue, #Gambit, #Bishop, #Jubilee, #Morph, #Wolverine, #Storm, #TeamX, #Maverick, #TrishTilby, #ValCooper, #AgentDenti, #SienaBlaze, #Hazard, #Marauders, #Sabretooth, #Harpoon, #Arclight, #Riptide   

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Review!

The Mad Max Saga has unfolded from the first trilogy with Max Rockatansky, part of the Main Force Patrol, in the 1979 film. In the near future, Max (Mel Gibson) takes revenge on Toecutter (Hugh Keays-Byrne) and his biker gang. He hunts them down for killing his wife and son. The sequel also known as The Road Warrior has Max in the Wasteland helping a community of survivors against the marauders led by Lord Hummungus (Kjell Nilsson). Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome has Max’s Interceptor car stolen and he heads to Bartertown to find it. The town is run by Aunty Entity (Tina Turner) who puts Max into the arena called Thunderdome. He is exiled an finds an oasis with children called Planet Erf. 

Max has to return to Bartertown to rescue a group from the oasis and manages to help a group to escape to Sydney. The next film, Mad Max: Fury Road, has Max (Tom Hardy) with his rebuilt Interceptor. He is captured by the War Boys and taken to The Citadel run by Immortan Joe (Keays-Byrne). Max is made into a blood bag for the War Boy named Nux (Nicholas Hoult). Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) drives out the War Rig for supplies and Immortan Joe discovers she has his five wives. Nux along with Max goes on the search for the wives. Max ends up on the War Rig and Furiosa meets with Valkyrie (Megan Gale). They are headed to the Green Place which was where she grew up as a child. 

Furiosa: A Mad Max Story is a prequel origin story for Furiosa. Directed by George Miller whose last film was the drama adaptation, Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022). Miller is the co-writer along with Nick Lathouris, who also worked on Mad Max: Fury Road. We hear radio repots of the apocalypse  then a closeup of an old man, The History Man (Georrge Shevtsov), at night in the desert. He tells the story of Furiosa. We see the young Furiosa (Alyla Browne) reaching up for a pomegrante. Browne played Young Alithea in Three Thousand Years of Longing. Her part takes a good part of the run time. This is the Green Place, a jungle that leads a ravine. Furiosa grabbing the pomegrante is a Garden of Eden paradise and the pomegrante is out of the myth of Persephone. 

She sees members of the Biker Horde and tells her sister, Valkyrie (Dylan Adonis) to stay while she sneaks over to their motorcycles. Furiosa cuts the fuel lines of the motorcycles, but is found by one of the bikers. She stabs his leg with a knife and frantically blows a whistle. Her mother, Mary Jabassa (Charlee Fraser) hears her daughter’s distress signal and rides a horse to find her. Fraser starred in the comedy, Anyone But You. A whip pulls down Furiosa trying to scale a cliff and she is thrown on a motorcycle to be kidnapped! Valkyrie points out to Mary and a Vuviani General (Elsa Pataky) the direction of the Biker Horde group. Pataky starred in the action movie, Interceptor (2022). The Viviani General uses her rifle to take sniper shots taking down riders. She is deadly, though the Vuviani need scouts or better defenses. 

Five War Rigs out of Five! 

#FuriosaAMadMaxSaga, #GeorgeMiller, #NickLathouris, #AnyaTaylorJoy, #AlylaBrowne, #TomBurke, #ChrisHemsworth, #LachyHulme, #GeorgeShevtsov, #NathanJones, #JoshHelman, #AngusSampson, #CharleeFraser, #ElsaPataky, #DylanAdonis  

Lorcana: Ursula's Return Review!

Ursula's Return is the latest Lorcana set and it has the best artwork and powerful cards! The cards have many discard and Lore mechanics that I think upturn the game! I really like the Shift:Discard cards that has you give up a card to play! An example is Ursula: Eric’s Bride that has Shift: Discard a song card! Note: I did pick up the Amber/Amethyst starter deck so many Encanto cards with foils. No Alma!, so the Madrigal family is almost complete. Plus the purple and gold color fits with teh film's style. Then, there is Ariel - Singing Mermaid by Matthew Robert Davies that has the stunning image from the film and the Denmark statue! This is highlight for the card artwork! No Cinderella or Minnie Mouse yet. Mickey Mouse: Leader of the Band, immediately throws me to the animated short, “The Band Concert” (1935). I would like the Miracle Candle item card. I didn’t get a Location like Atlantica. Amethyst, I did get a Belle, but not Belle - Accomplished Mystic with impressive art by Malia Ewart, it is Super Rare and moves damage to an opponent!

Love the Musketeers, Daisy Duck spy, Donald, the best is Goofy - Musketeer Swordsman, art by Carlos Luzzi, with crossed blades! The song card, Look At This Family, has Sing Together 7 bring seven characters to sing it, another Lorcana mechanic that duplicates the story! Elsa - Storm Chaser featuring art by Marriana Morerno has Elsa blasting away Ursulas’s dark tendrils! The Flotsam card has him snatching away Triton’s crown, the story points are cleverly woven in the cards. Also a duo card with Flotsam & Jetsam - Entangling Eels that shifts with 2 discards! Otto Paredes artwork for Isabela Madrigal - Golden Child is so beautiful that it is the one card I want as a foil. For Emerald, I like seeing Cri-Kee and the other characters from Mulan, but no Mushu yet. I wonder how he would face Maleficent - Monstrous Dragon. 

Prince Philip - Vanquisher of Foes with art by Randy Bishop is a great image from Sleeping Beauty. It really makes me want a Lorcana art book with sketches and profiles of the artists.  Hidden Inkcaster by Adam Fenton finally shows us the important Lorcana Item on a card. Dylan Bonner has spectacular art for the song card, Under the Sea, it is on my want list. There is a good range of characters from films and good collolation so you are not stuck with weak duplicates. In Ruby, another must have card is Goofy - Super Goof! Justin Runfola provides fun art like in his first appearance in The Phantom Blot #2 (1965). In animated form with the House of Mouse episode, “Super Goof” (2002). The Ultraheroes also include the Duck Avenger, but I wonder if there is a new super hero identity for Mickey Mouse! I also like seeing different versions of the characters like the awkward Hercules - Clumsy Kid and the confident Hercules - Daring Demigod.

Sapphire, another card on my want list, Anna - True-Hearted with her knight armor, sword, and shield. Great art by Leonardo Giammichelle! I’m also missing the Aurora cards. The card art that made the entire set for me is Seldom All They Seem by Rachel Eloise that has the Eyvvind Earle style from Sleeping Beauty! I need a print or poster of the art! Steel has some great Ariel cards which are on my want list. I love Samantha Erdini’s art for Luisa Madrigal - Rock of the Family. It has her with shield and sword in front of a donkey! The fantastic Alice Pisoni art for Mickey Mouse: Playful Sorceror is a perfect Fantasia image! A foil version along with Yen Sid - Powerful Sorcerer (Amthyst) and Mulan - Elite Archer (Ruby) are in the Deep Trouble game. The corrupted Anna - Ensnared Sister has original art for the cards in this case by Dustin Panzino. The oversized Ursula - Ruler of Lorcana by John Loren is flecked and hideous with darkness, with Ursula at her greatest powerr with Flotsam and Jetsam! Ursula’s Return has many powerful cards and top artwork with plenty of other films and television shows to keep going! 

#Lorcana, #UsulasReturn, #ShiftDiscard, #Encato, #ArielSingingMermaid, #MatthewRobertDavies, #MickeyMouseLeaderOftheBand, #TahndBandConcert, #MiracleCandle, #Atlantica, #BelleAccomplishedMystic, #MaliaEwart, #GoofyMusketeerSwordsman, #CarlosLuzzi, #LookAtThisFamily, #ElsaStormChaser, #MarianaMorerna, #IsabelaMadrigalGoldenChild, #OttoPaerdes, #PrincePhilipVanquisher, #RandyBishop, #HiddenInkcaster, #AdamFenton, 

#UnderTheSea, #DylanBonner, #GoofySuperrGoof, #ThePhantomBlot, #HerculesClumsyKid, #HerculesDaringDemigod, #AnnaTrueHearted, #LeonardoGiammichelle, #SeldomAllTheySeem, #RachelEloise, #LuisaMadrigalRockOfTheFamily, #SamanthaErdini, #DeepTrouble, #MickeyMousePlayfulSorceror, #YenSidPowerfulSorceror, #MulanEliteArcherr, #AnnaEnsnarerdSisterr, #DustinPanzino, #UrsulaRulerOfLorcana, #JohnLoren 

X-Men `97, “Tolerance is Extinction - Part I”, Review!

“Tolerance is Extinction - Part 1” brings the fate of mutantkind with the X-Men desperate to stop Bastion! This is the first of three parts concluding X-Men `97. Re:cap - “Bright Eyes”; Rogue had been hunting Bolivar Trask. The X-Men are sent by Trask to the UN building in Madripoor. Rogue lets go of Trask at the edge of the building. He has been transformed into the Prime Sentinel and blasts her! Cable arrives to take out the Prime Sentinel. The mastermind behind it all is Bastion. 

“Tolerance is Extinction - Part 1” is directed by Chase Conley. The writers arre Beau DeMayo and Anthony Sellitti. At the mansion grounds, Cable is using his rifle to target practice shooting bottles. Cyclops watches him from the window of Xavier’s office when Jean Grey enters. He says his son has been avoiding him. Scott struggled to give up baby Nathan and now finds himself estranged from him. Jean tells him that Bishop was separated from Cable in the time stream. 

At the conference room, Cable reports to the rest of the X-Men about Bastion. He says the Prime Sentinels use the techno-organic virus that Mister Sinister used on him when he was an infant. Beast says this could lead to a new species that be dominant over mutants and humans. Cable says Bastion’s war took 300 years. We see Cable’s view of the future which he says is a utopia. Humans are upgraded, flying over a futuristic city, mutants are forced to be workers. They are all in green jumpsuits from the Days of Future Past storyline.

We see an older Polaris using her magnetic powers. Rachel Summers uses her powers to lift up girders for a bridge. Cable tried to stop Genosha many times, but was pulled away. Beast brings up Absolute Points that are unchangeable parts of the timeline. Jean realizes that Cable was the person that made Madelyne happy in her final moments. Cable says a rebel found one of Bastion’s bases. His cybernetic eye flares as he vows revenge on his mother’s killer. He doesn’t have too much information about Bastion and thinks he may be a “backup android” from Master Mold.  

Jean breaks up the tension with Cyclops and Cable to show the newscast reporting on Charles Xavier! The anchor says that the X-Men faked his death and Henry Gyrich was murdered! The screen is slashed by Wolverine! They all know that Bastion has been setting up his endgame. An X class dissolve to New York. On television, William Stryker rants about the mutant conflict. Jubilee and Roberto are at a dinner party. Nina DaCosta is hosting her Genosha fundraiser. 

Jubilee is upset at her and leaves with Roberto for “retail therapy”! At the X-Mansion, Jean and Nightcrawler are checking on Rogue, still unconscious. Jean thinks about Madelyne and her baby saying he is perfect, human or mutant. A family moment. I wonder if some reality show could cover the X-Men to see them as very much human. She says the memories are lies. Nightcrawler says he was abandoned by his mother, but met Rogue, Mystique’s adopted daughter, and they became family. Nightcrawler says, “Family is a choice.” The writing is just perfect. 

The new “Blackbird” launches with Cable, Jean, and Cyclops, Beast directs them to the town of Harmony. There is a protest outside of the X-Mansion. Mister Sinister is at the laboratory looking at a screen. Valerie Cooper enters, her arm in a sling, I’m surprised she is a double agent. Mister Sinister wants to use Bastion for a number of mutant test subjects. Valerie goes up to Magneto strapped to an X, inhibitor collar with his gag. 

We see the concentation camp tatoo on his arm. The reports come in about nations turning away Genoshan mutants. Valerie says she didn’t know, still she is complicit, then Magneto’s eyes open. At Beast’s lab, Trish Tilby has brought him cocoa, and tries to apologize. She notes the X-Men have captured a key figure for the Genosha attack. The Prime Sentinel, Bolivar Trask, is contained in a tube. She wonders about other Prime Sentinels. Beast activates a world map hologram and waits for the scan. 

It is night when the team has reached a suburban row of houses. Jean realizes that this is the home of Bastion when he was a child. Cable sees a photo of Bastion as a child blowing out a birthday cake with his parents. They go to the next room where we see an elderly lady, the mother of Bastion, Rose (Kari Wahlgren) is sitting in a chair. Creepy. This makes me think of the old woman, Mrs. Kersh, in Stephen King’s IT. 

She says her son had told her they would arrive the next day for her. The woman goes to pack and Jean goes into Bastion’s room seeing his drawings. She picks up one to see images of his past at school where he could hear machines. The DC hero, Ram, could listen to electonics. Bastion hears the voice of Master Mold saying he would be the most powerful mutant. Young Bastion runs out of class. Jean says his father, the janitor, was infected by “Sentinel technology” from the future. Nimrod!  He was a powerful Sentinel from the future introduced in Uncanny X-Men #191 (1985). 

Bastion pleads to his mother if he will be normal. Then, we see the face of Bastion. Jean explains that he comes from every Sentinel. Screens are activated at Bastion’s headquarters.  Magneto is held captive there. Bastion says Gyrich made Xavier a martyr so he caused Genosha. On screen, Dr. Doom (Ross Marquand) says he is working with Bastion, but takes an “indifference” position with him. 

Baron Zemo (Rama Vallury) says Bastion’s Sentinel program will be stopped by President Kelly and the X-Men. He is informed that Dr. Cooper has to stay with him to make certain his memos are released. Bastion takes Valerie on a tour. He says Genosha is “time management” with the number of mutants compared to humans. cold. He shows her the lab with Mister Sinister monitoring a man lowered into a tube. Operation Zero Tolerance, OZT! This was an X-Men crossover event that started with Cable #45 (1997). Three people are lowered into tubes with bubbling green liquid! 

Bastion explains that they are the people displaced or angry at mutants. Valerie turns to see the Prime Sentinels in hospital gowns using their powers. Bastion didn’t fully explain what would happen to these volunteers to “Technopathic Augmentation.” Their memories of the process are wiped out to live as ordinary people. Bastion’s mother opens the door, she said Sebastian’s birth was difficult, then she shows them his last painting at age 16. 

His mother says he called it, “The Final Dream” which has Master Mold. He is there with Prime Sentinels over a hellscape of suffering mutants, something out of Dante’s Inferno. Bastion should have gotten help very early on. Then, she starts snapping, twisting, transforming into a Prime Sentinel! Apparently Bastion didn’t care about his mother! At a mall changing room, Roberto waits as Jubilee tosses out clothes. She loves her new black outfit. Roberto’s butler, Ford, is a Prime Sentinel and tells them to surrender! 

Trish asks Beast if the Prime Sentinels can be detected and he says not at an early point. Then, the hologram sounds an alert, Australia starts to light up! As a family watches television, the parents are transformed. Hank gives out his classic, “Oh my stars and garters” and is about to warn the others. His arm is twisted back by Trish Tilby, now a Prime Sentinel!, she punches him back. Then, she floats over and steps on Beast with her high heel. 

Beast is hurtled though the wall crashing by Nightcrawler, Wolverine, and Morph.  Wolverine pops his claws, but is blasted out of the X-Mansion by the Prime Sentinel! The burning house at Harmony, The Summers Trio are in a crater, Cyclops asks about Cable’s electromagnetic grenades. Then, the entire town rises as Prime Sentinels! They start to run, Cyclops blasts Bastion’s mother who forms a shield that blocks his optic blast. The Summers race to the Blackbird and immediately take off. A bit difficult to see any jet or spaceship take off in seconds, but ok. 

Nightcrawler bamfs Beast away. Juggernaut(?) rises up to take on the Prime Sentinel. She tosses him into a teleported Nightcrawler! They shatter into Xavier’s office along with Morph. Jubilee and Roberto start to run from what she calls the “Sentinel zombie.”! They pass others who transform into Prime Sentinels and blast at them. One tackles Roberto to a bottom floor, but he unleashes his Sunspot power at him! He tells Jubilee to split up. Some of the protestors outside the X-Mansion turn into Prime Sentinels and launch into the sky! 

The others run away. Xavier’s office starts to burn and we see the photo of the original X-Men. The Prime Sentinel turns to see Wolverine with his claws out! She grabs him and hurtles him into the sky. Wolverine jabs his claw into her, but then he is thrown down! Wolverine slashes the Prime Sentinels as he falls, full berserker mode. Logan is crashed down into the mansion by the Trish Sentinel. Rogue is safe, resting, but the glowing eyes of the Prime Sentinels are seen in the room!  “Tolerance is Extinction - Part 1” has the X-Men outnumbered by endless Prime Sentinels that looks like their last stand! 

Four Sentinel Blasters out of Five1     

#XMen97, #ToleranceIsExtinction, #ChaseConley, #BeauDeMayo, #AnthonySellitti,  #RayChase, #JenniferHale, #ChrisPotter, #HollyChou, #GuiAgustini, #GeorgeBuza, #CalDodd, #JPKarliak, #ChristineUhebe, #CatherineDisherr, #DonnaJayFulks, #CatherineDisher, #KariWahlgren, #TheoJames, #ChrisBritton, #RossMarquand, #RamaVallury

Last Day at Comic Con Revolution 2024!

Today, Sunday, was the end of Comic Con Revolution this year! I got a good look at the Star Cars; a larg Triceratops stuffie was hanging out of the back of the Jurassic Park jeep. I also saw a Star Tours mini-van with doors made to look like the Starspeeder with a Chopper in front of it! I also like the KITT car from Knight Rider, the first A.I. car? The posted beginning of the con was 11 a.m., but I went in about an hour before that time. I saw Herobear, from Mike Kunkel’s Herobear and the Kid, walking next to the con merch table. It was nice to see Vanessa Marshall especially so early in the morning. She is the voice of Hera Syndulla in Star Wars: Rebels. There were many guests who showed up when the doors opened. 

Fans waiting to meet the voice actors of X-Men `97, author’s photo. 

I had Adam Kubert sign a few Hero Intiative books at Artist’s Alley. I also saw the Hitchhiking Ghosts from Haunted Mansion, they didn’t follow me home, but they did follow me to the comic con! Then, Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti were at their table with no line, just two people! I picked up a sketch cover of Power Girl Paperfilms Special Edition and a limited editon The Pro Platinum Edition. I mentioned to Palmiotti that haven’t read any The Pro comics and he joked that it had a money back guarantee that comes with a mocking when returned! A very fun and talented couple! I walked to the front of the convention center and took a pic of the Dalek who thanked me for taking the photo! 

Hitchhiking Ghosts haunting the halls of Artist’s Alley!, photo by the author. 

Next, I went to see Trish Stratus, WWE Women’s Champion. It was a few hours wait, but gotta say worth it because she spent the time with fans. I spoke with a Platnium pass member who got front of line access to guests. He said it was worth it passing up some long waits, but didn’t have money for unnannounced guests. Similar to Disney parks, it’s a question of time and money, also what celeb do you want an autograph and what item? Some fans are perfectly fine without autographs, great, I like them as mementos and memories. Which reminds me that I moved over to the X-Men `97 tables. A.J. Locascio who voiced Gambit in the show was at the con Sunday. I was wearing my Last Voyage of the Demeter shirt and he said he gave one of off-screen line of dialogue in the movie! Gambit had the most memorable part in the show, I said to Locascio that I “remember it.” He liked the joke.

Voice actor, A.J. Locascio, with Gambit shirt, signing, author’s photo. 

Next, was Gui Agustini who said the voice actors are comic fans, which of course is great to know. He said he recently got the first appearance of Sunspot in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 New Mutants (1982). Also, I mentioned that the new season just concluded and many of the actors were at the con, which he explained was coincidence! I took pictures, usually a combo package with autograph, with all of the celebrities I saw at the con. Again, another way to remember meeting the person and a keepsake for a character or person that has some meaning. Plus, the autograph queues are a great way to chat with fans. The last part of the day was my only panel, Inside the Mind of Grand Admiral Thrawn. This was with Timothy Zahn and hostd by Tiffany Babb, writer of comics and pop culture. Babb asked Zahn about Thrawn and he said it was a Scottish word for “twisted.” 

Timothy Zahn with VIP Porg at Inside the Mind of Grand Admiral Thrawn panel, photo by the author. 

Zahn said challenge of writing Star Wars  was “You have to match that feeling in the readers’ mind.” The three qualities of Thrawn was his tactical genius, no ego, and the ability to listen to subordinates. He really liked Lars Mikkelsen’s casting as Thrawn calling it “genius” since a “non-native English speaker” would be careful speaking the dialogue. Zahn mentioned that he keeps nudging the people at Lucasfilm to feature Mara Jade! He said, “She has the Imperial background that will always be suspect.” Mara Jade’s distinctiveness is “A strong female character that is not a duplicate of anyone else.” I asked about the appearance of Galaxy's Edge in Thrawn: Alliances. Zahn said cast members point out the blast marks in Oga's Cantina that are from the battle with Thrawn and Vader! A very informative panel about Grand Admiral Thrawn. I finished the day visiting the table of cosplayer Joanie Brosas. Comic Con Revolution wrapped with a number of celebrities, artists, cosplayers, and a panel with Timothy Zahn, can't wait for CCR next year!    

#Herobear, #MikeKunkel, #VanessaMarshall, #ArtistsAlley, #AdamKubert, #AmandaConner, #JimmyPalmiotti, #TrishStratus, #AJLocascio, #GuiAgustini, #Sunspot, #MarvelGraphicNovel4NewMutants, #InsideTheMindOfGrandAdmiralThrawn, #TimothyZahn, #TiffanyBabb, #LarsMikkelsen, #MaraJade, #JoanieBrosas  

First Day at Comic Con Revolution 2024!

Today, Saturday, was the start of Comic Con Revolution this year! A very busy con, there was a dedicated parking area across from the convention center, and in front of the Ontario Convention Center was the familiar pop culture cars. Lightning McQueen, the Jurassic Park jeep, the Herbie Lovebug, and Transformers’ Bumbleebee as Chevrolet Camaro. A smooth entry with just a scan of tickets and then badge with lanyard. I always like the hand sanitzer and anti-bacterial wipes. Then, the exhibit hall was filled with dealers and exhibitors like Storm King Productions. Inside, there were a number of cosplayers, a very polite Dalek from the Order of Gallifrey, and I also saw an IG-11 who carried a Grogu. A dedicated area towards the end of the convention had an area for guests. 

Fossils of the Inland Empire exhibit and the show floor, Comic Con Revolution, photo by the author. 

The wrestling guests included Trish Stratus, Lisa Marie Varon, and Samoa Joe. Long lines for fans of Clone Wars with voice actors like Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano), Matt Lanter (Anakin Skywalker), and James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan Kenobi). Nika Futterman (Asajj Ventress) and Daniel Logan (Boba Fett) were on the other side of the signing area. For Star Wars: Rebels there was Steve Blum (Zeb), Taylor Gray (Ezra Bridger), and Vanessa Marshall (Hera Syndulla). I saw Taylor Gray, he was fun to see afterr a Star Wars: Rebels press conference at 2015's Celebration. Keone Young, who voiced Commander Sato, had his own table with Condemned Comics. Also in that area was Ray Chase who voiced Cyclops and actors Taryn Manning, she starred in Orange is the New Black, and Adrianne Palicki who is in the sci fi show, The Orville. Along the back wall were X-Men `97 voice actors; Ross Marquand (Magneto), Matthew Waterson (Professor Xavier), and Leonore Zann (Rogue). 

IG-11 cosplayer with lil’ Grogu, author’s photo. 

Next to them were writers, Timothy Zahn, who of course created Grand Admiral Thrawn,  and Greg Weisman who currently writes the Gargoyles comics.  A section was set for X-Men: The Animated Series with showrunners Eric and Julia Lewald and Larry Houston, director and producer. Along the back of con were fan groups like West Coast Avengers and Star Trek The Fleet. At the wall was a mobile display for Fossils of the Inland Empire which had great casts of prehistoric animals. Just outside of the exhibit hall was a wall for cosplayers including the Kids Can Cosplay which had Avatar: The Last Airbender cosplayers. I saw Gracie The Cosplay Lass dressed as Poison Ivy and it is always great to check in with Joanie Brosas cosplaying as Lucy MacLean from Fallout. There were a few Fallout cosplayers! In the next room was the Artist’s Alley that had long lines for Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti and on the other side was Adam Kubert. The only downside was there was few tables and sitting areas. Still, the convention was filled with excited fans and guests. Comic Con Revolution continues on Sunday! 

#ComicConRevolution, #OntarioConventionCenter, #StarCar, #AmyDumas, #TrishStatus, #LisaMarieVaron, #SamoaJoe, #CloneWars, #AshleyEckstein, #MattLanter, #JamesArnoldTaylor, #NikaFutterman, #DanielLogan, #SteveBlum, #TaylorGray, #VanessaMarshall, #KeoneYoung, 

#RayChase, #RossMarquand, #MatthewWaterson, #LeonoreZann, #TimothyZahn, #GregWeisman, #XMenTheAnimatedSeries, #EricAndJuliaLewald, #LarryHouston, #FanGroups, #WestCoastAvengers, #StarTrekTheFleet, #FossilsOfTheInlandEmpire, #KidsCanCosplay, #GracieTheCosplayLass, #JoanieBrosas, #ArtistsAlley, #AmandaConner, #JimmyPalmiotti, #AdamKubert 

Ursula’s Return, Lorcana Drop, at Downtown Disney!

The latest set for Lorcana by Ravensburger had a large crowd this morning at Pin Traders in Downtown Disney! This is the fourth set with the first day for hobby stores and Disney parks. For the Disney Resort, it is only at Pin Traders. The mass retailer drop will be on May 31st, in two weeks! There was a queue set up around the Pin Traders store that wrapped around the store. It then moved over to lines set up by the LEGO store. There were more fans and players than Into the Inklands on March 8th, I was told. 

Ursula’s Return Illumineer’s Trove and Illuminer’s Quest - Deep Trouble set with Disneyland in the background, author’s photo. 

What was exciting was the Illumineer’s Quest: Deep Trouble game. It is a set, $59.99, I think in place of the gift set. It is a game that can be played with one to four players. Players have to reach 20 Lore before Ursula gains 40 Lore and she has a gold colored deck that is nasty! The set has an oversized Ursula card, Ursula: Ruler of Lorcana, fitting considering her power. Plus double sided Battleground cards with difficulties of play; The Encounter (easy)/A Dark Realm (normal) and The Lair (Hard)/Infinite Wraith (Extreme). There are two preconstructed decks; Steel/Amethyst and a Ruby/Amber. Also a Secret Victory card in a gold foil pack for the winner! 

The Illumineer’s Trove, $49.99, has a deck box, eight packs, a pack of six card dividers (new), “Damage-counter” dice (regular six-sided dice), and a “spin-dial” Lore counter. Also available was the starter decks, $16.99, with of course the most important, Amber/Amethyst since it has the complete Madrigal family from Encanto! There are foils of Mirabel Madrigal: Gift of the Family, her Dreamborn card with Saving the Miracle ability. Also, the Out of the Shadows card of the person we don’t talk about with his It Was Your Vision ability. Pin Traders had a limit of 5 per item and I saw that limit of Illumineer’s Quest loaded up for one fan!

Illuminer’s Quest - Deep Trouble set and cards!

The playmats ran out, but there were Illumineer’s Quest and Illumineer’s Troves still there when I left in the afternoon. The packs have puzzle art cards that form the Ursula: Ruler of Lorcana image. The cards have incredible artwork, I really want to collect `em all!, and good collation so the extras are not clunkers. Noteworthy are the song cards; Treasures Untold by Matt Gaser and Rachel Elese’s Seldom All They Seem. Then hero cards; Mickey Mouse: Leader of the Band by Filipe Laurentino and the new Musketeer cards especially Daisy Duck: Musketeer Spy with art by Kendall Hale! I could go on and on about the cards, but I hope eveyone has a chance to get Ursula’s Return cards!    

#Lorcana, #UrsulasReturn, #Ravensburger, #PinTraders, #DowntownDisney, #IllumineersQuest, #DeepTrouble, #UrsulaRulerOfLorcana, #IllumineersTrove, #Encanto, #TreasuresUntold, #MattGaser, #SeldomAllTheySem, #RachelElese, #MickeyMouseLeaderOfTheBAnd, #FilipeLaurentino, #DaisyDuckMusketeerSpy, #KendallHale