X-Men (1991 Series) #197

March 19, 2007

Quick Rating: Average
Title: Condition Critical Part 1
Rating: A

An infected Rogue is brought to the country where Cable is king.

Writer: Mike Carey
Pencils: Chris Bachalo
Inks: Tim Townsend
Colors: Antonio Fabela
Letters: Cory Petit
Editor: Andy Schmidt
Cover Art: Chris Bachalo
Publisher: Marvel Comics

I have to say, I’m sort of disappointed in Mike Carey. On his past work, I’ve always thought it was either sublime or incomprehensible, but either way, it evoked a strong response. This issue – and in fact, his whole X-Men run – has been pretty “blah.”

Rogue, infected with the virus called Strain 88, is clinging to life, so Cable brings her to the nearest refuge – his own island nation of Providence. While the doctors there go to work, the rest of the team sets about pondering the implications of Cable running his own country, the fact that they’re really worried about Rogue, or wonder what Sabretooth is ostensibly doing on the team.

I think the biggest problem here is that this doesn’t really feel like an X-Men team. Over half the roster is comprised of former villains or total neophytes, plus Cable, who has sort of let his messiah complex go to his head. That leaves us with Iceman, Cannonball and Rogue (one of whom spends the issue comatose) as real relatable characters. Honestly, it’s not enough.

Chris Bachalo’s artwork on this issue is okay, but it’s not spectacular. Honestly, I think the colors are more to blame for some of the art problems – the book is overly dark in most cases, and many of the characters have weird “auras” around them that disrupt the flow of the artwork.

I just can’t bring myself to care too much about this book, and from what I hear, that’s a sentiment shared by many an X-Fan.

Rating: 5/10

Cable and Deadpool #41

June 10, 2007

Quick Rating: Good
Title: Fractured Part Two
Rating: T+

As the Hecatomb battle ends, Deadpool arrives at the ruins of the battle.

Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Pencils: Reilly Brown
Inks: Jeremy Freeman
Colors: Gotham
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Editor: Nicole Boose
Cover Art: Skottie Young
Publisher: Marvel Comics

This book picks up right on the heels of X-Men #199. Rogue has absorbed the minds of the Hecatomb, Sabretooth is free and causing havoc, and Deadpool is ready to have a little fun. This issue is pretty good, and is considerably better than the main story it’s crossing into. (In fact, having read this, I finally understand exactly what happened in X-Men.)

Much of the issue is concerned with Cable ruminating on the “death of his dream,” while a far more interesting segment deals with Deadpool fighting off Sabretooth long enough for Domino and one of the survivors of the massacre to escape. For the first time in months, Cable and Deadpool get more or less balanced amounts of screen time this issue, and their stories even wind up converging.

Reilly Brown and Jeremy Freeman do an okay job on the artwork. The Deadpool/Sabretooth fight is particularly good, while the rest of it is effective enough to tell the story, if nothing spectacular.

This is a pretty solid issue, and like I said, it actually helps clarify the X-Men storyline, so if you’re still scratching your heads over that mess, picking up this book can only help you out.

Rating: 7/10

X-Men (1991 Series) #194

December 26, 2006

Quick Rating: Fair
Title: Primary Infection Part 1
Rating: A

A plague is about to be unleashed.

Writer: Mike Carey
Pencils: Humberto Ramos
Inks: Carlos Cuevas
Colors: Edgar Delgado
Letters: Cory Petit
Editor: Andy Schmidt
Cover Art: Humberto Ramos
Publisher: Marvel Comics

As Rogue’s team searches for the truth about the mysterious Pan, the Beast continues his examination of a stranger who dropped dead outside of the gates of Xavier’s. Meanwhile, a plague is in the works that could threaten all mutantkind.

Mike Carey still seems like an odd choice for the X-Men, but he’s definitely brought his own flavor to the title. The opening scene in the bar includes some dialogue that’s incredibly Carey-esque, and he’s culled some very unusual characters to join the team (and I don’t just mean Sabertooth and Mystique). Sometimes the weirdness works, sometimes it doesn’t. There’s a character, for example, who calls himself a “reverse Typhoid Mary,” but as far as I can tell, he’s exactly like Typhoid Mary.

Humberto Ramos, likewise, is an odd choice, but I think he’s a better match all-around. He has a good feel for basic superhero storytelling and most of his character designs work as well. I particularly like his version of the Beast, right down to the bow tie.

I give Carey credit for trying something a little different with the X-Men – not enough writers are willing to do that. In execution, it’s a mixed bag of stuff that fits and stuff that doesn’t.

Rating: 6/10

Ms. Marvel (2006 Series) #10

December 19, 2006

Quick Rating: Good
Title: Your Own Worst Enemy
Rating: A

Ms. Marvel and Rogue versus Warbird?

Writer: Brian Reed
Pencils: Mike Wieringo
Inks: Wade Von Grawbadger
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Editor: Andy Schmidt
Cover Art: Mike Wieringo
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Last issue Ms. Marvel had to join forced with Rogue, the woman who once ruined her life, to combat a mutual enemy – another Carol Danvers from another universe who’s set her sights on getting revenge for what her Rogue did to her. Ms. Marvel and the alternate Warbird wound up collapsing on the campus of the Xavier institute, where they wound up in the care of Carol’s old friend Hank McCoy, the Beast.

This issue is mostly fight scene – Warbird versus Rogue and Ms. Marvel, with the Beast jumping in for a fight or two. The “hero fighting herself” gimmick is pretty tried and true, and there’s not really anything too original thrown into the mix. The strength comes in the slight twists to Warbird’s motivations. Once you find out a little bit about her, she’s better than just your average evil duplicate from another universe – she’s actually a lot nastier than you’d expect, which is a good angle to take. “Our” Carol’s reaction is also different from the norm, much more realistic, much more human. The way things end up is strong too – Reed caps off the issue with the possible introduction of a new rogue for Ms. Marvel’s gallery (no pun intended) and a really strong character moment to close off the storyline.

Mike Wieringo’s artwork, as always, is impeccable. He’s one of the greatest pure superhero artists out there, doing a wonderful job on all of the characters (although I’m not sure when the Beast grew a ponytail). This book has surprised me from day one. For a comic starring a b-list character without a superstar writer and an unstable art team, this title is much better than it has any right to be. Brian Reed knows Carol is a b-lister, and he uses that to his advantage, and that makes this a really unique book in any universe.

Rating: 7/10