The usual thoughts/rants:
- While I always enjoy more X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, I question why they decided to cancel the ongoing, only to then put out a "special" and then a 4 issue mini. Wouldn't it have been easier to just release an annual and then cancel it in 4 issues? Oh, well. Parker & Cruz are still aboard and this will probably still be lighter hearted X-Men stuff.
- Speaking of which, SPIDER-MAN/X-MEN chugs along. The first issue was like a really good issue of XM:FC although Gage is trying to make the continuity work. Essentially, the story is that four Spider-Man/X-Men random retcon team-ups somehow lead to the millionth scheme from Mr. Sinister, who's dead now anyway. Hmm. In the grand scheme of things this really doesn't matter and probably just serves to add something else to the shelves that is Spidey or X in an age when paper is SO expensive Marvel looks for any excuse to jack prices up a buck. Still, Gage is usually solid and the art is nice. Plus, this story offers the Astonishing team (plus Nightcrawler), which was always a solid cast of X-Men. Gage can stand to impress me even further if he has Colossus do something cool.
- Still annoyed that CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI-13 is still considered an X-Book even though aside for Pete Wisdom, it really has no character who is an X-Man (and Wisdom used to be on EXCALIBUR, which was always one of those "X-Books, sort of" things). Dracula is coming back, being revived for the billionth time. In a way it almost seems a bit predictable, going for the biggest vampire ever rather than, say, Baron & Baroness Blood. Still, CB&MI-13 is a book whose strength isn't in Cornell writing the most original plots ever, but in his character interaction and development. Of course, you could say this helps tie into Blade and Spitfire, and Blade has had quite a few stories where he fights Dracula alongside no-name slayers who all die anyway. At least this time he will have bigger back-up, which probably means Dracula will, too. Drac is one of those villains who can and has never died for good, so any climatic showdown rarely works...but you could argue that for virtually any A-List super villain these days. As always, looks good.
- So NEW EXILES "Begins Anew"...hmm...does that mean that someone will finally react to Proteus basically wearing Morph's corpse and everyone still jokes with him about it?
- The first issue of ADAM: LEGEND OF THE BLUE MARVEL made a better impression on me than I expected; in a way it is a step up from NEW WARRIORS for Grevioux. The cover looks nice and Blue Marvel is looking more interesting than Sentry is by far. Hopefully by issue #4 the story will be in full swing and I will be more confidently recommending it.
- CAPTAIN AMERICA #47 is looking good, and the new pulp villain looks interesting...although for some reason he reminds me of V (as in V for Vendetta). Plus, more Black Widow and Namor (and Invaders stuff), and Brubaker & Epting, so there really isn't more to need to know at this point to ramp up anticipation.
- Kingpin returns in DAREDEVIL? Gosh, what a shock. What next, Bullseye?
- IMMORTAL IRON FIST #23 has a kick ass cover, and hopefully the story matches.
- A Christmas FF issue around Valentine's Day? Ah, Hitch, you speed-artist you!
- GHOST RIDER #32 finishes Aaron's solid arc, but considering how low sales are going, I am curious if this may be his last. Which would be a shame, considering he has really saved a title that Daniel Way left for dead.
- A sequel to MARVELS...exactly a decade after no one wanted one. Brilliant! And then some random one-shot about Galactus on TV. Marvel can't complain about the high cost of paper when they continue to publish some comics no one asks for and just clog the racks, like TRUE BELIEVERS and whatnot.
- NOVA #22...hmm...so Worldmind starts to practically force people into becoming Centurians. It seems odd that Nova's faithful super-computer of Xanadar would go dictator, but then again, it's point of view may be, "Richard alone is too impulsive, nearly erased the whole of Xanadarian culture a few times for refusing to listen, and hasn't stopped long enough to recruit, so now I must do it for him" or something. Still, looks interesting, and great cover.
- WORLD OF KINGS: DARKHAWK looks very interesting. It looks like it helps bridge the gap from Darkhawk moving from Loners founder to space hero, written by the Loners founder himself, Cebulski. Finally, something worthwhile that isn't fairy tales rubbish. The cover looks impressive and at two issues, likely won't ware out any welcome. A lock.
- Ramos only lasted an arc on interiors for RUNAWAYS, but I still am not likely returning.
