Lilo & Stitch #2 Review!

 Lilo & Stitch #2 brings some adventure at a comic con in New York! Re:cap - Lilo & Stitch #1; Lilo is encouraging Stitch at his artwork telling his story. She later finds that the drones of the Cluster Sovereign have kidnapped Stitch! Lilo chase after him with Jumba and Pleakley in their ship. Stitch manages to break free and lands in Central Park. He walks and finds out that he is at a comic convention! Nicoletta Baldari provides the cover with Stitch on top of a skyscraper with a his picture of Lilo and himself. Greg Pak is the writer and Giulia Giacomino is the artist. 

At the house in Kaua’i, Nani goes looking for Lilo and Stitch, she finds a track from a ship. In New York City, Nani contacts Pleakley asking about Lilo, but he pretends to know nothing. Nani threatens him and Pleakley explains everything, funny! Lilo is on a street light post using one of the Dr. Jumba’s binoculars, a man rolling a hand truck with boxes bumps into her, and finally detects the robotic drones. The shark-like drones at the cosplayers, Stitch-Captor 2 likes that they are having fun. A robot cosplayer compliments Stitch-Captor 2 who is gleeful. I like the dangerous looking robot is fun, turning an enemy to an ally is the greatest accomplishment. 

The man pushing the crates, Mike, working for K-29 Kawaii Koalas looks at his box and finds a strange order. He looks Asian with a red t-shirt and top knot. "Kawaii" means cute in Japanese. One koala has five arms, this still might sell at a comic con. Stitch turns to see a drone. Stitch hurries to the Kawaii Koala booth and the worker is surprised when Stitch jumps into the booth!  The drone pushes through the crowd and grabs Experiment 626! He opens his hand to find a koala! It tears the stuffie apart and Mike says he should pay for it. The drone gumbls and walks off. There should be con security checking out the situation. 

Stitch says, “Tanks” to Mike. A woman with her baby and her baby in a stroller are drawn to the booth. She finds that the koalas are horrible and wants to buy one. There are Ugly Dolls and Fugglers. I hope to see a Kawaii Koala at a comic con. The baby happily holds the koala. Alone, Mike tugs on Stitch’s ear and he returns the gesture! He realizes that it is not a costume. A drone says it is searching for Experiment 626 and the cosplayers love the dramatic speech. Stitch hides among the koalas and tells Mike that he is now Kawaii Koala. Mike likes the idea. Stitch-Captor 2 meanwhile is getting a sketch of himself. 

At the Kawaii Koala booth, Stitch is making faces and sketches which brings in a long line of cosplayers! Sketching is a big part of comic cons and the theme of loving something that might be different is great! Stitch-Captor 2 is about to ask for a sketch and notices it is Stitch. Lilo notices the blast of energy that sends the rest of the con attendees running! Stitch dodges the plasma blasts and Stitch saves Mike throwing him into the Kawaii Koalas! Stitch dodges the plasma blasts of the two Sovereign drones. Still, he is hit with a blast. Lilo comes to the rescue throwing a koala and Mike joins in throwing off the drones. Stitch knocks into both drones and Lilo and Stitch are reunited! 

Lilo slaps a wrist communicator on Stitch’s wrist. Still, he is grabbed by a Sovereign drone, but Mike leaps on top of it and the robots flies away! Lilo checks on Stitch and then we find her tearfully picking up his drawing. Wow, wacky adventures and a little emotion! We see a page of several drawing of Lilo and Stitch spending time together, love the crayon like artwork! Nani followed by Jumba and Pleakley find Lilo. She brings up the meaning of ohana. Lilo shows her the drawings and says Stitch is her kuleana, responsibility. 

I love the themes running in the comic along with the fun. Nani says Lilo left her behind and that Stitch is also her kuleana. Jumba works on the fallen drone, Stitch-Captor 2, taking away his Cluster Sovereign programming. It says that it is looking for DNA samples from Stitch to make the drones more dangerous. Pleakley has found the drone’s sketchbook and loves the drawings. This is perfect depiction of some of the fun of comic cons. Giacomino's artwork is very kawaii. Lilo & Stitch #2 has fun with the classic characters, adventures at a comic con!, and filled with heart!  

Five Plasma Bombs out of Five! 

#LiloAndStitch, #GregPak, #GiuliaGiacomino, #Nani, #Jumba, #Pleakley, #StitchCaptor2, #Mike, #KawaiiKoala 

X-Men `97, “Fire Made Flesh”, Review!

Episode three, "Fire Made Flesh", of X-Men `97 tests the team with a villain from the past! Re:cap - “Mutant Liberation”; Magneto has given himself to a trial by the UN and the X-Cutioner is there to end his mutant powers! Storm stays with Magneto as the rest of the X-Men are there to stop him! At the X-Mansion, Jean is about to deliver her baby, Wolverine takes her in a race to the hospital! Rogue flies to the hospital and absorbs the skills of the doctor who refused to help a mutant! FOH breaks into the council chambers and Magneto holds off their gunfire. He bends the room’s metal into giant swords hanging over the protestors like the sword of Damocles! Magneto slams them down as Storm electrifies the swords into a cage! Innovative power combo! She sees X-Cutioner aim his rifle and flies into the way taking the blast!  

Magneto uses his powers to pin X-Cutioner to the UN symbol. Storm has fallen, she reaches out, and says, “The breeze is gone”! In Uncanny X-Men #185 (1984), Henry Gyrich brought the neutralizer to use on Rogue, but Storm was the victim! I like the twist on the story, but the same result. Magneto turns to Val Cooper and the council. He rips up the council and X-Cutioner into the sky. He says he could crush them with his boots over X-cutioner’s face. Still, he brings up Xavier’s dream, as we see Cyclops with Jean. Magneto tells them not to let him down. We the baby in Jean’s arms whom she names Nathan. A perfect contrast of birth and something fantastic. A news report explains the UN’s pardon of Magneto and aid to Genosha. 

Magneto and Cyclops are watching and Scott admits that he has to trust Magneto from Xavier’s wish. Beast is at the lab says that the rifle worked like a concentrated inhibitor collar taking away her powers! Jean hugs Storm who is shocked. She goes to her room to see her blasted unifom. Ororo is startled by a thunderclap. I like the reaction of Storm without her powers. Jean finds her farewell letter. Rogue takes off her glove to hold Magneto’s hand. Morph has brought beer to a sulking Wolverine. He transforms into Sabertooth to get into some friendly rivalry. Rogue leaves Gambit whose card drops to the floor. Ororo leaves on a bus from the X-Men. Powerful work by Alison Sealy-Smith. Jean reads the letter to the X-Men. 

They hear a doorbell ring and a woman who looks like Jean Grey who says, “I need the X-Men”! “Fire Made Flesh” picks up from there. Emi Yonemura is the director of the third ep. The writers are Beau DeMayo and Charley Feldman. Beast is checking on his unconscious patient. Jean is by her side and uses her power to examine her doppleganger’s life. The woman’s life is like Jean’s life except faceless and Jean says it is like she was “born yesterday.” Her double wakens in a laboratory out of Castle Frankenstein! She runs into the woods and then sees the trial of Magneto on a television. This Jean stumbles to the X-Mansion. Then Jean is shocked by a vision of fanged teeth and a laugh! 

Morph dubs her Jean Doe shifting into six-armed Spiral (Abby Trott). Beast tells the X-Men of the test results that Jean Doe is genetically older than their Jean Grey, a clone! Scott carrying their baby is silent!Jean tells the X-Men that she was the first of them and then takes baby Nathan. In their room, Jean holds Nathan, as Cyclops enters. It doesn’t matter who is Jean Grey, if this is the one who has his child. She sends him away. Impressive work by Jennifer Hale, the voice work on this show is outstanding with character moments that are familiar, but more dramatic in the animated series! She hears a creepy voice over the baby monitor, it’s giving me shivers, who says he can give answers if she is Jean Grey. Bishop sees his time band almost finished by Beast. 

Scott asks Bishop why Magneto taking over the X-Men isn’t in his future. Bishop says that the future isn’t set, “Your future hasn’t been written yet”, haven’t they seen Back to the Future Part III?, it was released in 1990. Beast suddenly tells Scott that they have to find Nathan, scientists, leave signatures. He says he knows who could be behind the mystery and calls him “Sinister”!  Over the baby monitor, the voice introduces himself to Jean as Mister Sinister (Chris Britton)! This is the villain who first full appearance as in Uncanny X-Men #221 (1987). He made his appearance in X-Men: The Animated Series in "Till Death Do Us Part, Part Two" (1993). She sees flashes of Mister Sinister in the darkness. Jean should just turn off the baby monitor. She realizes that he wants Nathan! Mister Sinister says she belongs to him and she has flashbacks of herself and Jean Doe on hospital beds with Mister Sinister next to them! 

He places a crimson gem on her brow which is similar to his own. Jean lashes out and throws down pictures of her wedding day and the X-Men. Suddenly, energy courses around her and she is transformed into the Goblin Queen, a black outfit! Jean says, “They shall know my inferno!” The Goblin Queen was introduced in Uncanny X-Men #240 (1988). Gambit, Wolverine, and Morph leave a Danger Room session. Morph sees the next sessions are taken by Rogue and Magneto, private time! Morph mocks Gambit who leaves to find Rogue. At the lockers, Morph sees some mist. Gambit sees a green glow from under a door. Roberto and Jubilee are watching television when he hears a whisper, “Muties.” Classic Nightmare on Elm Street! Morph finds Wolverine in the shower who says he is joking to hide what they already know. 

Gambit finds the room filled with jungle vines as Rogue holds Magneto! She tells him in a wicked voice that she found a real man while her flesh is pulled into Magneto! Watching television, the Gwen Stacy-like character’s eyes glow green and a blobby monstrosity out of anime, spills into the floor. It speaks like Roberto’s Brazilian mother, Nina (Christine Uhebe)! Morph falls back in fear of someone he already encountered, Mister Sinister, and screams! He returned revived by Sinister in the “Till Death Do Us Part, Part One” (1993) episode of X-Men: The Animated Series. Cyclops and Bishop enter his room, but Jean and Nathan are gone! Instead, Nathan’s playthings are changed into tentacles that hold the X-Men. A distorted Professor Xavier puppet who says Scott has failed. Bishop is confronted by the face of his sister, Shard (Kimberly Woods), who says he left her. 

Roberto’s power flares, but the face of his mother saying he is a mutant freak keeps him against the wall. Jubilee’s pyrotechnics blast the creature away! The elevator opens for the Beast and a giant face vomits purple fluid! The X-Men gather, but fall into a hellish vision. Beast leaps onto a demon out of Lewis Caroll’s poem, funny! Cyclops fully charges up Bishop who uses his power to blast apart the demons! A skeletal Sentinel rises, but is destroyed by Jean Doe. Cyclops catches her and he tells the Dark Jean that she is controlled by Mister Sinister. She says she is Goblin Queen. Goblin Queen has Nathan contained and blasts the X-Men. They are all recovering from the battle when Rogue enters with Magneto. Cyclops updates Magneto. Morphs tells them that Sinister was a scientist in the 1800s and used mutants to extend his life. 

Magneto has Rogue, Wolverine, and Beast stay behind to help their wounded teammates. He will lead the others in an attack on Sinister! The villain is about to drop the seemingly happy infant into a vat. Sinister intends to make Nathan “invulnerable”! The X-Men enter the mansion of Sinister; Magneto, Bishop, Cyclops, and Morph. The Goblin Queen is there and sends out a mystic blast at Cyclops. Morph shifts into Magik (Courtenay Taylor), the sister to Colossus with a mystic Soulsword. Goblin Queen corrupts him into serving her and attacks in her demonic form! Magneto faces the Goblin Queen whose magical power is beyond his own! Another fantastic episode of X-Men `97 that wrestles the continuity of two Jean Greys that was retconned and tells some really personal stories with touches of anime horror!  

Five Sentinel Blasters out of Five! 

#XMen97, #FireMadeFlesh, #EmiYonemura, #BeauDeMayo, #CharleyFeldman, #JenniferHale, #RayChase, #GeorgeBuza, #JPKarliak, #GuiAgustini, #HollChou, #AJLoCascio, #CalDodd, #IsaacRobinsonSmith, #MatthewWaterson, #KimberlyWoods, #ChristineUhebe, #AbbyTrott, #ChrisBritton, #MisterSinister, #GoblinQueen 

Geiger #1 Review!

Geiger #1 relaunches with the Glowing Man wandering a wasteland and may have found hope for a different life! It began with the first limited series in 2021 by creators Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. Geiger, who could transform into a radioactive, skeletal form, faced the Casino Warlords of Las Vegas. The next series, Geiger: Ground Zero, was a two issue mini-series that placed the character in The Unnamed stories of Ghost Machine. The one-shot, Geiger 80-Page Giant featured his first encounter with two-headed wolf, Barney! Ghost Machine launched the imprint from Image Comics and set Geiger sparing the life of a man with a half-scarred face in knight’s armor. 

The first issue’s cover by Frank has Geiger unleashing tendrils of radiation, his skull-like mouth screaming, and black cloak spread out behind him! A summary explains Tariq Geiger, husband and father, was fighting cancer and then came the Unknown War. He was transformed into the Glowing Man. We see a page, “25 Years From Now”, the near future in The Unnamed. We see a jeep and horse coming into a town like bandits. The town looks Western, but with a fallen McDonald’s sign. The townspeople start to run, but an older man tells the bandits that they gave everything last week. The leader hits him with a rifle butt and then brutally kicks the man’s wife. A bit of the ultra violence. This may be reflected in the leader who strikes a book from a hooded man calmly reading it. 

We see the title, Blood Meridian (1985) by Cormac McCarthy, it features the kid who falls in with a vicious gang terrorizing the Old West. In the shadows, Barney growls, and then we see a closeup of Geiger’s grim face. This moves to a two page title design in red brick. Next, a two page splash has the Glowing Man standing over the bodies of the bandits; one man has the sizzling print of Geiger’s hand on his face! Geiger wields his dampening rods like escrima sticks. They suppress his radioactive form! He turns as the remaining bandit who has a knife to a young boy. His face is seen as another boy; flashback. Geiger throws his dampening rod and in a blank panel, it shatters into the bandit and he drops the kid. The boy, Becca, is held by his parents. They are scared of the Glowing Man’s skull. 

Becca is fearful that his radiation might make them sick. The older man, Henry, is mayor and is told to speak with Geiger. He mentions that Geiger was there for their library. Geiger silently picks up his book and walks away. From a post, the scarred knight happily watches Geiger walk out of town. Back in his human form, Geiger has a campfire going in the night full of stars. He is cooking beans for Barney and his wolf companion starts to growl. Geiger knows that it is the knight he encountered. Morning, the campfire is sputtering when the knight hurries over to see the empty camp. He is thrown down by Geiger and repeats that he can help him. Geiger says it is the same promise he made in Albuquerque. The knight says the army was hunting him, using a device, geiger counter?, to find him. He destroyed toxic waste to try to throw the army off of Geiger’s trail. 

Geiger asks him what he wants and we see an extreme closeup of the knight’s eyes. The knight, still without a name, says he wants to be like Geiger. I wonder if he is the "Unnamed" of the series. The knight reminds me of Sancho Panza in Don Quixote (1605). He says he worked for the King of Vegas, from the first series, and saw Geiger stand up to him. The knight says that he wants to try to “do the right thing.” There is a strained look on Geiger’s face, Frank’s character art is spot on, and says he’s wrong. A sudden explosion tosses away both persons! Two Humvees roll up. It is soldiers sent by President Griffin with a kill order for Geiger! The knight rushes them with his sword as the rifle bullets ping off his armor. Still, he is awkward and knocked down! A soldier is about to shoot him, but Barney surprises the rifleman! The Glowing Man leaps with his radioactive rods to bring them down on the soldiers. Two pages of some violent action! 

The knight is impressed, but Geiger says his radioactive form is not admirable. Again, he brings up that other glowing people were cured. Geiger leaves with Barney saying, “Nothing good survives in this world.” The knight’s face is in despair. The desert winds batter Geiger and the wolf. He sees that a dandelion still clings to a rock. This makes him think of another dandelion tucked by the ear of his daughter, Violet. She smiles holding flowers. The contrast of the wasteland and the vibrant, modern world adds a realistic element to the story. At the wedding party, his son, Marcus complains about his suit and his parents renewing their vows. We see Tariq’s wife in a green dress while he wears glasses. The wedding party wants them to kiss, their faces are so distinctive that I think they may later be characters in other flashbacks. This fragment of his previous life should drive Geiger to be a good man to honor them. Geiger #1 has a haunted hero who is driven to find purpose like his almost-sidekick in a violent world!   

Five Dampening Rods out of Five! 

#Geiger, #GhostMachine, #GeoffJohns, #GaryFrank, #GlowingMan, #Barney 

Monkey Man Review!

Monkey Man is a hard edged action movie that contains mythological symbolism, class conflict, and the story of a mother and son!  The son is played by Jatin Malik and this is first film. Dev Patel is directing his first film and also provides the story and co-screenplay credit. Patel's last film was Green Knight (2021). His co-screenwriters are John Collee, who wrote the dramatic true story, Hotel Mumbai (2018), that starred Patel and Paul Angunwela, director and screenwiter of the comedy, Keith Lemon: The Film (2012). The film is violent and has adult content that should be a warning for audiences. It begins with a mother, Neela (Adithi Kalkunte), telling her son (Jatin Malik) the story of Hanuman, monkey god of devotion. Kalkunte also starred in Hotel Mumbai. 

The Demon King and his army had power over people until he faced Hanuman. We get closeups of the mother while we also see book illustrations of Hanuman. The cinematography, Sharone Meir, also filmed the action movie, Silent Night (2023). He asks his mother, “Then what happened?”, and this shifts to a crowd at a fighting ring. We see now a man in a monkey mask. He is not given a name like the mysterious Western gunfighter and credited as Kid. It is a brutal, bare knuckles fight and a man in a suit, the ring announcer, Tiger (Sharlto Copley) steps into the ring. The fights have a savage quality that is still readable, no shaky cam. The man is thrown out of the ring and into a table by his opponent, King Cobra, defeated. He walks down a hallway, then to a sink where he removes his mask, and spits blood. This Patel playing Kid. 

He flashes back to his village on fire. Tiger says that the crowd hates him. This is in the fictional city of Yatana. On television, the is the report on the religious leader, Baba Shakti (Makarand Deshpande), who has laid off half of farmers for his own building. Deshpande was in the Hindi action movie, Bholaa (2023). Also by his side is police chief, Rana Singh (Sikande Kher), and a woman named Queenie Kapoor (Ashwini Kaskar). Kher was in the Hindi thriller, Monica, O My Darling (2022). Kashkar stars in the Hindi thriller released this year, Merry Christmas. Later on the streets, a blind man in a wheelchair is trying to sell figures of the gods. He rams his wheelchair into the table of Queenie. As the table is settled, the man takes the purse of Queenie, and rolls away. He passes the person from person to person in the streets until it reaches the Kid. This does feel like a sequence from Slumdog Millionaire (2008) and there are thematic story points that are also similar. 

He passes the person from person to person in the streets until it reaches the Kid. The Kid watches a building, the restaurant called Kings, and is taken to the kitchen. He enters the office of Queenie, the manager, and says he found the purse in a fight. The Kid insists he needs a job and will do any work. Queenie asks to see his hand, and his hands are scarred, The Kid says they were burned in bleach. He looks and sees the photo of Rana Singh and also photos of women. The Kid is given a job and we see him at night sleeping on a floor with workers. He dreams of his mother saying a prayer to Hanuman which h repeats as a kid. The next day, he is washing dishes when he is questioned by Queenie’s right hand man, Alphonso (Pitobash). The thriller Parchand (2023) starred Pitobash. Alphonso is looked down by the other workers for his bad leg, but he has a goofy confidence. 

The Kid is asked his name by Alphonso and replies that it is Bobby. Alphonso walks away and passes a can of Bobby’s Bleach. Bobby (using his pseudonym as his high society identity) goes to talk to a young boy about a Raju Special. He is taken by the boy to an armorer who has a wall of guns. The armorer asks him, “You like John Wick?” A great shout out to an inspiration. He gets a pistol from the armorer. Back at the King’s kitchen, Bobby notices that Queenie is slapping a beautiful woman, Sita (Sobhita Dhulipala). The biographical drama, Major (2022), starred Dhulipala. This angers Bobby who balls his fist, but he goes to talk with Alphonso and gives him the address of his fight club. Bobby tells Alphonso to bet against the challenger in the third round. He says he will be fighting and says that this will be to get a promotion. 

#MonkeyMan, #DevPatel, #JohnCollee, #PaulAngunwela, #Pitobash, #SobhitDhulipala, #AdithiKalkunte, #JatinMalik, #MakarandDeshpande, #SikandeKher, #AshwiniKaska, #MakarandDeshpande, #SharltoCopley 

Redcoat #1 Review!

Redcoat #1 has the action packed hijinks of an immortal who is fated for something more!  A preview of Redcoat was in the anthology Ghost Machine #1. It is part of The Unnamed, a group of heroes who have to fight a Great Evil in The Unknown War. The figure of Redcoat carrying a rifle is central to the gatefold cover by Bryan Hitch. Revolutionary soldiers charge towards him and we see the suspicous face of Benedict Arnold, below is Annie Oakley while rampaging ape-like creatures attack Davy Crockett. Also, ter is the solemn figure of The Northener and the smug face of the young Einstein. All of these historical figures were previewed in Ghost Machine. There is a page showing the date, 1775, the beginning of the Revolutionary War. 

On the night streets under a full moon, Paul Revere rides, shouting, “The redcoats are coming!” to startled townspeople. Revere is struck by a rock and topples from his horse! He is surrounded by British soldiers who mock him and then begin kicking the rider. In a closeup, we see a soldier notices a flying insect that glows green. The soldiers pause to see the glowing swarm. They start to fill the mouth of a soldier and the others who start to gag and then their heads turn to burning skulls! Revere is helped up by John Hancock who says he can continue with his message. Hancock explains that the soldiers were killed by himself using the “magicks of the Founding Fathers.” A splash page shows the bodies of the soldiers, Revere sees the circle of magic and canals of blood from their bodies. This is the tale told by the narrator. 

This shifts to December 25, 1776. The time that Washington crossed the Delaware River. We see the legs of Redcoat running from a battle. He is followed by a number of men with blue coats. Redcoat explains that once they arrived they heard that colonists took in the mysticism of the natives. An episode of Twilight Zone, “Still Valley” (1961) had Confederate soldiers making the decision to use magic to win the war. A two page spread has Redcoat running on a snow field filled with Revolutionary soldiers! He calls himself a coward deserting from the battle in Trenton. Washington crossed the Delaware River to defeat mercenaries in Trenton, New Jersey. He also notes his name, Simon Pure. 

This epic scene is followed by Simon hiding in a covert on the side of a hill as the soldiers rush past. At a church, Simon finds a place to sleep with his knapsack as a pillow. He is wakened by light and voices. Simon moves over to see that there is a lower basement and it moves to a closeup of his face. Hitch’s artwork is very cinematic. Simon looks below in another two page spread at a ceremony, several men in white robes and red hoods are around a bald man with glasses, Ben Franklin! He is casual about his sacrifice and hopes to be reborn. Simon slips and falls on top of the leader, Grand Architect, John Hancock? He starts to fight the cultists and the ram skull begins to glow. This strikes Simon and in another splash page, Simon is spun, multiple figures, as he screams. 

Simon says he saw images of his life and the Grand Architect says to Ben Franklin that he is not worthy. A closeup of Simon bathed in blue and screaming. The roof of the church explodes with a blue light! I like the hapless accident that transforms Simon into an immortal. The basement is scoured with smoke, a great effect, and Simon says that is when he first died. The death and return is like the immortals of Highlander (1986). There is also a DC hero called Immortal Man who reincarnated into new bodies. He made his first appearance in Strange Adventures #177 (1965). Simon revives on the stone table covered by pieces of rubble and alone. This jumps ahead, Simon is not a reliable narrator, and it is November 3, 1892. He is wakened by someone who asks for the rent he owes. 

Simon rushes to get dressed in his characteristic redcoat and then the landlord’s boot bashes in the door! It is instead several riflemen who want to kill him. A series of panels show him with a gun in 1790 fo killing a man’s brother, 1827 Simon killed a man’s father, the gun to his head as he is about to eat, and then 1892, bearded man, Clarence, says he killed his favorite cousin. A lifetime of murder. Obviously, Simon is being reborn, Groundhog Day (1993)-style, until he finds redemption, his courage. He pulls Charlie’s rifle forward to kick him into the other riflemen and escape. Then, we have a two page spread of Simon leaping through a window! The immortal lands on a horse drawn trolley and then leaps to the street. He is noticed by a dark haired boy speaking German calling him a “wizard.” Simon notes to himself that being immortal means he is always hungry and without money. He goes into a bar to see Betsy. She is angry at him. 

In 1779, he slapped by another woman, and says that he deserves it. The honest con man and fighter with a touch of craziness is Captain Jack Sparrow. Then Simon is slapped in 1820. 1892, he is slapped by Betsy. She mentions all of the meals and drinks he hasn’t paid. She agrees to get him something placing a lamp by a window. Simon mentions their past relationship. Clarence and the other two men enter and mentions her signal to them, the lamp. She mentions that they have paid his debt. In a long panel while Betsy serves customers drinks, Simon swings a chair at his attackers. He tries to say he is going to make amends to Betsy as he has an arm around the throat of a man holding a knife! The immortal is shot by a rifle as he is also stabbed in the back! Simon hears the words of his abusive father. He is trapped in a coffin, but it is opened by the boy, who it turns out happens to be Einstein! Redcoat #1 has a boorish, accidental immortal caught in offbeat adventures through time!

Four Redcoats out of Five! 

#Redcoat, #GeoffJohns #BryanHitch, #SimonPure, #PaulRevere, #JohnHancock, #BenFranklin, #AlbertEinstein, #Betsy 

Re:tro Re:view - The Star Wars #1!

The early forms of Star Wars are compelling what characters and names shifted from Han Solo’s alien Ureallian appearance to the capital of the Empire, Alderaan, a floating city! The designs inspired by Ralph McQuarrie’s art are shown in The Star Wars #0 (2014) and the early pages by Scott Kolins that got the approval of George Lucas. The adapter is J.W. Rinzler who started writing on Star Wars with The Making of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005). Then, he went deep into The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (2010) and The Making of Return of the Jedi: The Definitive Story Behind The Film (2013). Rinzler had died in 2021. The rough draft by Lucas was completed in 1974. 

The limited series by Rinzler and Mike Mayhew lasted eight issues. Mayhew also provided art for Star Wars #15 (2016) that began From The Journals of Obi-Wan Kenobi. #15 It was published by Dark Horse Comics and is of course considered Legends. The cover reflects one of the early Star Wars posters by Tom Chantrell with Luke facing forward with his blaster, Leia with her blaster at his side, and Han running up with his blaste and Darth Vader behind them. Mayhew has General Luke Skywalker, next to him is Princess Leia in her newly designed uniform, and the Ureallian Han Solo! The roll up explains the time before the Great Rebellion with the Jedi-Bendu as the “bodyguards of the Emperor”! 

They are part of the Imperial Space Force, but then went extinct by the New Empie and the Knights of the Sith. We see an Aquilean Fighter streaking over a planet! The starship has triple engines and two triangular panels. Its flight is seen planetside on the Fourth Moon of Utapau. Of course, the planet in Revenge of the Sith (2005), where Obi-Wan faced General Grievous. There is a young man with a breath mask and long rifle. He heads over to a makeshift base with an abandoned ship with a single cockpit like the Millennium Falcon. Annikin Starkiller removes his goggle and then tells his father about the ship. His father, Kane Starkiller, is bearded, with a headband and parts of armor. His younger brother, Deak, is also seated with a cube in is hand. Deak was the name of Luke's friend at Tosche Station in the cut scene.  

Kane chastizes Deak for not concentrating. It is interesting to see the early father dynamic. Annikin reports that there was only one ship, a Banta Four. Kane tells Annikin to get prepared and Deak has solved the cube’s problem, a confusing “Corbet Dictum.” Deak runs off to get ready, his clothes are similar to Luke’s desert tunic.  Over a ridge, Kane is scanning the landed ship, he says that the pilot is trying to draw them out. Kane heads to confront the warrior. The two brothers discuss the situation, Deak focuses on the ship with electrobinoculars when the image is distorted. It is a figure in black robes and mask with teeth curving out like a Japanese oni mask! A Knight of the Sith. He ignites a red blade that startles Annikin and then slashes Deak! Annikin ignites his lazer sword. I would really like to know how it was changed to lightsaber. Lazer sword seemed like the usual name for it.  

The red-eyed Knight of Sith glares at him. Annikin’s strike is parried by the knight who drives him back with his lazer sword.  Kane leaps at him with his lazer sword, this reminds me of Qui-Gon with Darth Maul, and he lands bi-secting the Knight of the Sith! Kane is silent looking at his son and then turns to find the body of Deak! A violent beginning for a Star Wars story. Annikin tries to apologize. Kane sets a torch to Deak’s burial fire and then goes to the Banta Four ship. He tells Annikin to set a course for Aquilae. Alderaan, the capital of the New Galactic Empire, has four one-man starships, Imperial Stardestroyers racing over the Plaza of the Daders. It is aerial maneuvers over rows of Imperial Ai Tanks, more roundish disks than the droid AAT Battle Tank, and crowds. 

The scenary looks like the level of the Prequels and looks like the unlimited budget of comic book artwork. It is interesting if it  would be designed circa late 70's. Governor Hoedaack is there with the Emperor who is dressed wtih formal robes and looks more like Flash Gordon’s Ming the Merciless. He announces that the battle is to defeat Aquilae, an independent system that has sheltered the last Jedi. The Emperor has offered the Treaty of Alliance to Aquilae, but it is efuesed. He hasm made Hoeaack First Lord of the Aquilaen system. The planet has not appeared in current Star Wars. The shocktroopers cheer, “Death to the Jedi!” They look like stylized stormtroopers with sealed helmets and V shaped visors. 

Still, one man walks away from the crowds, this is Clieg Whitsun. His name was used for Uncle Owen’s father and last name was Aunt Beru’s maiden name. He greets his friend, Bail Antilles, a large man in a fur coat, at a bar. His first name was later used for Bail Organa. Bail works for the Galactic Traders who says all ships are grounded. Clieg wants to warn Aquilae. The scarred face of Darth Vader turns to see Governor Hoedaack who wants to celebrate. Vader has the shoulder armor from the films, but short, shaved hair. The window out of the city looks like Corsucant vistas. He is cautioned by the bulky alien, Supreme Tribunal Member Vantos Coll. Vantos tells him that Aquilae is led by a Jedi. He says that General Skywalker was the first bodyguard of the Emperor and led the Jedi Rebellion. 

Vader says Seig Darklighter was the leader. The first name is another unused name and we know Biggs’ last name. Vantos was there during the rebellion. This shifts to the Palace of Lite on Aquilae. A large panel that shows an elaborate palace that hints at Jabba’s Palace designs, but with pteranodon-like creatures flying overhead. King Kayos and Queen Brehad rule there. Breha was the name of Leia’s adopted mother. The king sits with the Aquilean Council and one member, Count Sandage, tells him that the Chrome Companies can’t support him. This is very like the blockade of Naboo. Sandage was a name used for a Podracer and strangely not Count Dooku. Almost a full splash page, General Skywalker, bearded with a headband, and white uniform walks in. He is about middle aged with a bald head. 

One of the council, Tarkin says that war is a “remote possibility.” He sends Count Sandage to give the answer of the treaty. King Kayos’ children, Biggs and Windy, burst in to tell about Leia. Windy is the name of another friend at Tosche Station. Queen Breha, hugs her daughter, the teen Leia (!). The characters shift around, but appears Leia was originally had a mother who was queen! Leia is leaving for studies and General Skywalker wishes her goodbye along with her family. Breha says,, “May the Force of Othes be with you all.”! At the war room of the hidden fortress, General Skywalker checks on the status of ships. Montross reports that a battalion of stardestoyers left for Anchorhead. Suddenly, guards are thrown back by Kane Starkiller and his son! Kane wants his son to be General Skywalker’s Padawan learner. He reveals that most of his body is cybernetic except his head and right arm! The Star Wars #1 is a fascinating origin of Star Wars concepts that became the classic movie. It is a brilliant reconstruction by J.W. Rinzler and Mike Mayhew! 

Five Lazer swords out of Five! 

#TheStarWars, #GeorgeLucas, #RalphMcQuarrie, #ScottKolins, #JWRinzler, #MikeMayhew, #TomChantrell, #KaneStarkiller, #AnnikinStarkiller, #DeakStarkiller, #GeneralSkywalker, #Leia, #KingKayos, #QueenBreha, #Biggs, #Windy, #CountSandage, #Tarkin, #CliegWhitsun, #BailAntilles, #VantosColl, #GovernorHoedaack, #DarthVader

X-Men `97 #1 Review!

X-Men `97 #1 is a great companion to the Disney+ cartoon that fills in characters and a must read for the animated show's fans! The return of the X-Men `97 animated show is also accompanied by the Marvel Comic by Steve Foxe and Salva Espin. Foxe worked with Espin on X-Men `92: House of XCII (2022). Todd Nauck provides the regular cover with the X-Men heading to battle with Wolverine leading the charge! In Times Square, Magneto hovers above the street with panicking citizens using his powers to raise several cars. An optic blast strikes his magnetic force bubble. It is Cyclops with the rest of the X-Men; Wolverine, Storm, Bishop, and Jubilee. Espin’s artwork is clean like the animation. Wolverine pops his claws leaping at Magneto, but of course thrown into the air. 

Storm sends up winds to cushion his fall. She reminds him this is why Cyclops develops strategies. Next, Magneto sends a car crashing by Jubliee and Bishop, he boasts the X-Men are useless without Xavier. Then, sends up girders to send Cyclops flying backwards! The Danger Room is always a great way to start an X-Men story. It gives a good sense of the characters and their powers. We hear Jean Grey’s telepathic “Enough!” as she ends the Danger Room session. The team starts to exit the Dagner Room when Wolverine challenging Cyclops’ leadership. They are separated by Storm’s gust. Bishop, from the future, is surprised that there is arguments that were not in his holo-vids. Beast contacts them on a screen tlling thm about some news. 

At a computer station, Beast is watching reporter, Trish Tilby, and Jubilee is surprised that Dazzler is featured. Trish updates the situation where Dazzler has been captued by FOH. She was set to perform at the Charles Xavier Memorial Concert. Jubilee agonizes over her tickets, great expression, and Beast notes that the news footage allowed him to track the route of FOH. Cyclops is ready to leave in the Blackbird and Jubilee asks if she can pilot the jet. This was something brought up in the premiere. Jean says she will stay behind due to an upset stomach. Beast says he will also be at the X-Mansion to repair Bishop’s time travel equipment. He mentions other help which we see with Gambit and Rogue clothes shopping. They seem to wander away from the team more than a few times. 

Storm cuts into their flirting via hologram to send them coordinates. The Blackbird hovers by a warehouse and Rogue smashes though a wall dragging along two FOH members. Gambit greets them through the gap in the wall. The X-Men charge in while a FOH soldier has his rifle zapped by Storm’s lightning. This is interesting to see the full team in action with Rogue, Gambit, and Jubilee missing from the first episode's action. Jubilee heads over to the restrained Dazzler guarded by three FOH gunmen. She leaps, throws her fireworks, and kicks them! Jubilee frees Dazzler and she in turn brings up the last meeting with Cyclops. This was in the third season episode, “Dazzled” (1994). Dazzler made her debut in Uncanny X-Men #130 (1980).

Val Cooper arrives with agents to take the FOH men into custody. She introduces herself and that they are to help out the X-Men sent by President Kelly. Robert Kelly was a senator who had an anti-mutant stance when he first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #135 (1980). One FOH member calls the agents “gene traitors.” The scarred face of Agent Carl Denti tells him that he will free him if he goes quietly. A government agent turned FOH! As Denti passes, Wolverine seems to recall his scent. Later, the Blackbird lands at the X-Mansion, and Jean walks over to talk to Scott. He says he is busy debriefing with Beast. We see in a large panel of Jean looking sad as we see Wolverine and Cyclops walk on. In a closeup we see Jean holding a pregnancy test stick. 

A close up of Jubilee’s shocked expression, this is another large panel of Storm with her new faux hawk, her look was more punk in Uncanny X-Men #173 (1983). Here it is Storm getting ready for the Dazzler concert and in the comic it was Storm becoming more aggressive. Beast is at his lab working on Bishop’s time travel tech with not much luck. Bishop is impressed by Storm’s new look. He was introduced eight years after Storm changed her hairstyle, but he is a time traveler. Jubilee is impatient to get to the concert. Jean is trying to look for Cyclops and Bishop says he went to the Danger Room. Storm gives her ticket to Bishop. She sees the Blackbird leave with Jean. Storm gives her support to Jean who is worried that Cyclops is too focused on leading the team. There are some great background to characters in the new show that makes X-Men `97 #1 required reading for fans of the show! 

Five Sentinel Blasters out of Five! 

#XMen97, #SteveFoxe, #SalvaEspin, #ToddNauck, #Cyclops, #JeanGrey, #Wolverine, #Storm, #Bishop, #Gambit, #Rogue, #Beast, #Jubilee, #Dazzler, #TrishTilby, #AgentDenti, #Magneto 

X-Men `97, “Mutant Liberation Begins”, Review!

The second episode of X-Men `97 focuses on Magneto and the changes for the X-Men!  Re:cap - “To Me, My X-Men”; The new mutant, Roberto da Costa, has been found by the FOH (Friends of Humanity) group. The X-Men arrive to rescue Roberto and find that the FOH are armed with Sentinel weaponry! Cyclops unleashes his optic blast and the team is able to return to the X-Mansion with Roberto. He is angry at Rogue and Gambit for staying behind. Cyclops and Jean Grey, very much pregnant, are trying to keep the X-Men going with the absence of Professor Xavier. Roberto is tested in the Danger Room simulation facing Magneto. Later, Cyclops contacts Val Cooper for intelligence on the Sentinels. Wolverine has scared off Roberto and sends Jubliee and other team members to find him. At a nightclub, Jubliee finds Roberto. 

Cyclops and Storm question Henry Gyrich (Todd Haberkorn) in prison for shooting Xavier. At the X-Mansion, Jean uses Cerebro to enter Gyrich’s mind! She finds Gyrich contacts Bolivar Trask (Gavin Hammon) about a back up Master Mold to build Sentinels! Suddenly, Jean is thrown into a dark vision of her baby, and a skull-like Master Mold (Eric Bauza)! The X-Men fly in the Blackbird to the Sahara Desert. It is destroyed by a Sentinel! They make it with flying team members assisting others and Cyclops slowing his descent by optic blast! Trask activates Master Mold and the Sentinels, but the X-Men are able to destroy them with Storm, an Omega level mutant, finishing off the last of them! Back at the X-Mansion, Roberto activates his Sunspot powers for a moment, but leaves Jubliee and the X-Men. 

The team is about to play their usual game of basketball when they get an alarm at Professor Xavier’s office! They find Magneto who shows them the will of Xavier who has turned over everything to him! He helped save Xavier and now has become the leader of the X-Men in Uncanny X-Men #200 (1985)! The second episode begins with FC News reporting on the ferris wheel at Coney Island about to fall along with the riders! It is set back into place by the figure Magneto now in his purple uniform with M symbol! Also first seen in that pivotal issue of X-Men. Cyclops and Jean Grey watch the reports at the X-Mansion. The report continues with the saving of humans and mutants. Then, we get to a military conference room right out of Dr. Strangelove (1964)! It is watched by Val Cooper.

FOH has captured Callisto (Courtenay Taylor), the leader of the underground mutants, Morlocks. This includes the young, green-skinned Leech (David Errigo, Jr.). The female FOH leader (Donna Jay Fulks) is bound along with the others by Magneto! The X-Mansion, night, at their conference table, the X-Men discuss Magneto, Rogue wants to give him a chance. Magneto enters and explains that he is sending the Morlocks to the mutant island nation of Genosha. This was introduced in Uncanny X-Men #235 (1988). He makes a valid point that the X-Men and Xavier never thought of moving the Morlocks to safety. At her room, Jean reflects to Storm on last wearing her uniform when she was possessed by the Phoenix Force. She says that she is worried about her son growing up as a mutant. 

Storm reassures her and Jean says she has a feeling of doom since reading Gyrich’s mind. I love quiet, character moments which is missing from superhero or blockbuster films. Rogue walks into the office of Magneto and sees him contemplating his helmet that blocked out Xavier’s telepathy. Erik says when he was friends with Xavier he would always sense him in his mind. Rogue realizes that he would wear the helmet to block out Xavier’s friendship so he wouldn’t continue his mutant crusade! Something new and interesting about the duo! Erik says he will fulfill Xavier’s wish as we see the photo of the original X-Men. Rogue tells him that she had a past, but was accepted by the X-Men by aning their trust. They hear helicopters outside that land on the lawn of the X-Mansion! The X-Men assemble as Magneto tells them to be ready! 

UN soldiers with rifles scramble out of the helicopters. Val Cooper walks out and says their weapons are esistant to his powers. He smiles and uses his magnetic power on the helicopters! The helicopter blades close in on Val and her soldiers. She orders his arrest by the UN Commission of Superhuman Activities, a fictional organization from Uncanny X-Men #199 (1985). Magneto lowers the helicopters and has handcuffs and an inhibitor collar placed on himself! The trial of Magneto is televised with Val saying that Magneto would continue his war on humans after the trial. It seems biased to have the arresting agent offering the case against the defendant. Wolverine notes to Jean that there is a large protest outside of UN headquarters. Also, that Cyclops is with the X-Men to watch Magneto. Outside of the protest in a van, Denti pulls down the helmet of X-Cutioner, I didn’t realize that Denti was the villain from Uncanny X-Men Annual #17 (1993). 

He holds up his rifle saying he will only have one shot! Magneto is given the chance to speak in front of the judge panel. Chained with the inhibitor collar does not offer the defendant dignity in his trial. Magneto brings up being a child losing his home and then hunted as a mutant. The X-Men watch in the audience, I like Beast contemplating his words, and this is seen by the Morlocks in Genosha. A judge (Jeff Bennett) angrily says that his words does nothing for his victims. Magneto counters that the Sentinels were built to hunt mutants. Extermination in revenge for mutant attacks. Another judge (Courtenay Taylor) asks him if he will act now like Charles Xavier. Gambit says to Rogue that it wouldn’t be bad if Magneto were punished, she shrugs away his comment. Then, there are reports of the violence outside. Officers spead out to protect the judges.

Magneto notes that the crowd thinks the judges are traitors to humanity. Cyclops has Storm stay with Magneto as the rest go to reinforce the guards. Wolverine is about to leave, but Jean tells him, “He’s here!” He pops his claws readying for Apocalypse, funny!, and Jean tells him she is having the baby! Wolverine drives Jean wildly in a jeep though streets to reach a hospital. Jean uses her telekinetic powers to save some bystanders, but becomes overcome with birth pains, she shreds the roof off of the jeep! Protestors breach the doors of the building and Cyclops blasts the floor into a barrier. It is shattered by X-Cutioner!

Beast scans him and is unable to determine information on the rifle, but he is armored. FOH enters the battle and X-Cutioner places an inhibitor collar on Bishop before shooting him! Cyclops’ blast is blocked by X-Cutioner’s staff and he throws it, shattering Cyclops’ visor. X-Cutione repeatedly hits Cyclops. A very bloody battle putting most of the show and themes outside of network animated shows. He is saved by Lady Deathstryke, then Colossus, and Psylocke; Morph’s shapeshifting. Cyclops puts on his visor and gets a telepathic message from Jean. 

He contacts Storm about the baby. Storm tells Rogue to fly Cyclops to Jean. She will defend the judges with Magneto. Storm orders the judges to send officers to back up the X-Men and Magneto to be freed. The first judge tries to question Storm, but Ororo shows the authority of a leader! Wolverine threatens a doctor who refuses to treat a mutant. I think this goes against the Hippocratic Oath. Plus the X-Men seems unprepared for the delivery. They have human allies who could help them. Cyclops arrives and tells Rogue to use her powers to absorb the doctor’s skills. The threat of X-Cutioner and the protestors, the tension of Magneto's trial, contrasts with drama of Jean delivering her baby makes for a powerful episode of X-Men `97! 

Five Sentinel Blasters out of Five! 

#XMen97, #MatthewWaterson, #RayChase, #JenniferHale, #AlisonSealySmith, #CalDodd, #LenoreZann, #AJLoCascio, #GeorgeBuza, #JPKarliak, #IsaacRobinsonSmith, #CatherineDisher, #CourtneyTaylor, #DavidErrigoJr, #DonnaJayFulks, #LawrenceBayne, #ToddHaberkorn, #GavinHammon, #EricBauza