Archive for the ‘Rachel Summers’ Category
April 30, 2014
Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Brad Walker
June 2009
****
The huge cast reunites to play diplomat in the War of Kings maxiseries, sending a delegation to each side (an echo of Galactic Storm). To the writers’ credit, they pack a lot of action into one issue—starting w/ a bar brawl—and they give nearly every character a particular voice and perspective.
last issue: Guardians of the Galaxy #12
next issue: Guardians of the Galaxy #14
also indexed for Jun. ’09
Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #2 of 5
Nova #24
War of Kings #2 of 6
War of Kings: Ascension #1 of 4
Tags:Andy Lanning, Brad Walker, Dan Abnett
Posted in Adam Warlock, Black Bolt, Bug, Ch'od, Cosmo, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, Gorgon, Groot, Havok, Inhumans, Jack Flag, Karnak, Korvus, Kree, Major Victory, Mantis, Medusa, Moondragon, Peter Quill, Star-Lord, Phyla-Vell, Polaris, Rachel Summers, Rocket Raccoon, Shi'ar, Starjammers, Vulcan | Leave a Comment »
April 21, 2014
A-story: Jay Faerber // Adriana Melo
B-story: Jay Faerber // Ramon Perez
October 2009
A-story: * // B-story: *
Another anthology of tossed-out filler to supplement the latest Marvel space opera. Plot A, starring a former Avenger, offers an insultingly pat solution to topical US quandaries like terrorist attacks by civilians & occupation by “good guys”. Plot B is generic backstory of an already-dead empress.
last issue: War of Kings: Warriors #1 of 2
also indexed for Oct. ’09
Fantastic Four #570
Guardians of the Galaxy #17
Nova #28
War of Kings #6 of 6
Tags:Adriana Melo, Jay Faerber, Ramon Perez
Posted in Black Bolt, Brood, Ch'od, Crystal, Gorgon, Havok, Inhumans, Karnak, Korvus, Kree, Lilandra, Luna, Medusa, Polaris, Rachel Summers, Ronan the Accuser, Shi'ar, Starjammers, Triton | Leave a Comment »
April 18, 2014
Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Wellinton Alves
September 2009
***
DnA revitalize a minor ’90s hero by intertwining his mini with their big WoK maxiseries. The mission is an echo of their fine revival of Nova: a young hero is the last member of an intergalactic force. But Darkhawk’s fellows were a malevolent conspiracy & he must clear his reputation w/ heroics.
last issue: War of Kings: Ascension #3 of 4
see also War of Kings #5 of 6
also indexed for Sept. ’09
Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #5 of 5
Guardians of the Galaxy #16
Nova #27
War of Kings #5 of 6
War of Kings: Warriors #1 of 2
Tags:Andy Lanning, Dan Abnett, Wellinton Alves
Posted in Black Bolt, Darkhawk, Fraternity of Raptors, Gladiator (Imperial Guard), Havok, Hussar, Imperial Guard, Korvus, Polaris, Rachel Summers, Skrulls, Starjammers, Vulcan | Leave a Comment »
April 12, 2014
Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Paul Pelletier
November 2009
****
The Kree-Shi’ar War has left a glowing tear in spacetime & a crisis of leadership in both empires. The former suggests a new plot direction for Marvel’s line of space epics; the latter adds much-needed dramatic thickener. But what leaps out from this epilogue is the chaos of an occupied territory.
continued from War of Kings #6 of 6
also indexed for Nov. ’09
Dark Reign: The List – The Avengers #1 of 1
The Fantastic Four #571
Guardians of the Galaxy #18
Nova #29
Tags:Andy Lanning, Dan Abnett, Paul Pelletier
Posted in Astra, Black Light, Ch'od, Crystal, Darkhawk, Earthquake, Fang, Gladiator (Imperial Guard), Gorgon, Havok, Hussar, Imperial Guard, Impulse, Inhumans, Karnak, Kree, Lockjaw, Luna, Magus, Manta, Maximus the Mad, Medusa, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Plutonia, Polaris, Rachel Summers, Ronan the Accuser, Shi'ar, Smasher, Squorm, Starbolt, Starjammers, Titan, Triton, Warstar | Leave a Comment »
April 10, 2014
Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Paul Pelletier
September 2009
****
The Shi’ar despot confronts the Kree monarch aboard a superweapon that will turn the galaxy Inhuman. This wooly space opera reaches its climax, but its best moments are in the hurly burly: a princess’s horror at the doomsday device, a super-alien’s war-fury, an X-Man’s hollow vengeance.
last issue: War of Kings #4 of 6
next issue: War of Kings #6 of 6
also indexed for Sept. ’09
Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #5 of 5
Guardians of the Galaxy #16
Nova #27
War of Kings: Ascension #4 of 4
War of Kings: Warriors #1 of 2
Tags:Andy Lanning, Dan Abnett, Paul Pelletier
Posted in Araki, Black Bolt, Crystal, Darkhawk, Fraternity of Raptors, Gladiator (Imperial Guard), Gorgon, Havok, Imperial Guard, Inhumans, Karnak, Korvus, Lockjaw, Maximus the Mad, Medusa, Polaris, Rachel Summers, Ronan the Accuser, Shi'ar, Shi'ar Death Commandos, Starjammers, Triton, Vulcan | Leave a Comment »
April 9, 2014
Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Paul Pelletier
August 2009
**
Civil unrest and factionalism tears apart the Shi’ar Empire, culminating in the assassination of its Empress, an old Claremont creation. As w/ many Marvel “events”, WoK is less coherent w/o its supplemental minis. The lack of time for character beats reinforces the bombast of space opera too.
last issue: War of Kings #3 of 6
next issue: War of Kings #5 of 6
see also War of Kings: Ascension #3 of 4
also indexed for Aug. ’09
Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #4 of 5
Guardians of the Galaxy #15
Nova #26
War of Kings: Ascension #3 of 4
War of Kings: The Savage World of Skaar #1 of 1
Tags:Andy Lanning, Dan Abnett, Paul Pelletier
Posted in Araki, Blastaar, Crystal, Darkhawk, Fang, Fraternity of Raptors, Gladiator (Imperial Guard), Havok, Hussar, Imperial Guard, Korvus, Kree, Kree Sentries, Mentor, Rachel Summers, Ronan the Accuser, Shi'ar, Shi'ar Death Commandos, Skrulls, Starjammers, Titan, Vulcan | Leave a Comment »
April 8, 2014
Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Paul Pelletier
July 2009
***
Good storytellers like Abnett & Lanning know to plot for the endgame, not the opening. In #3, they start to twist this mini in interesting ways. Romance buds in an arranged marriage; the Inhuman aristocracy hatches sinister plans for their subjects; & that mohawked Shi’ar superman turns renegade.
last issue: War of Kings #2 of 6
next issue: War of Kings #4 of 6
also indexed for Jul. ’09
Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #3 of 5
Guardians of the Galaxy #14
Nova #25
War of Kings: Ascension #2 of 4
Tags:Andy Lanning, Dan Abnett, Paul Pelletier
Posted in Black Bolt, Crystal, Drax the Destroyer, Electron, Gladiator (Imperial Guard), Gorgon, Groot, Havok, Imperial Guard, Inhumans, Karnak, Korvus, Kree, Lilandra, Lockjaw, Major Victory, Maximus the Mad, Medusa, Mentor, Plutonia, Polaris, Rachel Summers, Rocket Raccoon, Ronan the Accuser, Shi'ar, Smasher, Starjammers, Triton, Voyager, Vulcan | Leave a Comment »
April 7, 2014
Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Paul Pelletier
June 2009
**
As the title indicates, royal houses go to war: two galactic empires who fight with starships, zero-g shock-troops & planet-annihilating bombs. Yet, unlike this crew’s other current SF comics, WoK feels padded out. Only a show of compassion by a princess demos their typical richness of character.
last issue: War of Kings #1 of 6
next issue: War of Kings #3 of 6
also indexed for Jun. ’09
Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #2 of 5
Guardians of the Galaxy #13
Nova #24
War of Kings: Ascension #1 of 4
Tags:Andy Lanning, Dan Abnett, Paul Pelletier
Posted in Black Bolt, Ch'od, Crystal, Gladiator (Imperial Guard), Gorgon, Havok, Imperial Guard, Inhumans, Karnak, Korvus, Kree, Lilandra, Maximus the Mad, Medusa, Mentor, Polaris, Rachel Summers, Ronan the Accuser, Shi'ar, Starjammers, Triton, Voyager, Vulcan | Leave a Comment »
April 6, 2014
Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning // Paul Pelletier
May 2009
***
Context is all. Taken alone, WoK works through the hoary plot of a thousand space operas: a clash of galactic empires. And this issue simply shows an alien army attack a wedding arranged to consolidate two races. But w/ Marvel’s cosmic line behind it, this colorful super-battle feels momentous.
continued from Secret Invasion: War of Kings #1 of 1
next issue: War of Kings #2 of 6
also indexed for May ’09
Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1 of 5
Guardians of the Galaxy #11
Guardians of the Galaxy #12
Nova #23
War of Kings: Darkhawk #1 of 2
Tags:Andy Lanning, Dan Abnett, Paul Pelletier
Posted in Arc, Astra, Black Bolt, Black Light, Ch'od, Crystal, Earthquake, Electron, Fang, Flashfire, Gladiator (Imperial Guard), Gorgon, Havok, Hobgoblin, Hussar, Imperial Guard, Impulse, Inhumans, Karnak, Korvus, Kree, Kree Sentries, Lilandra, Lockjaw, Luna, Magique, Manta, Maximus the Mad, Medusa, Mentor, Neutron, Nightside, Plutonia, Polaris, Rachel Summers, Ronan the Accuser, Schism, Scintilla, Shi'ar, Smasher, Squorm, Starbolt, Starjammers, Titan, Triton, Voyager, Vulcan, Warstar, White Noise | Leave a Comment »
February 22, 2012
Jim Shooter // Al Milgrom
March 1986
*
The series takes a truly weird twist as its protag invents a Kirbytech “birthing module” that allows him to be reborn as an omnipotent mortal (the turn echoes Shooter’s similar, infamous “Rape of Ms. Marvel” plotline). Every superhero in Marvel Comics wants to stop the cosmic being, leading some to propose infanticide! Instead, the nebbishy Molecule Man & his homely g’friend save the universe.
[continued from The Fantastic Four #288]
[continued in The Avengers #266]
[last issue: Secret Wars II #8 of 9]
Tags:Al Milgrom, Jim Shooter
Posted in Aurora, Beyonder, Black Knight (D. Whitman), Box, Cannonball, Captain America, Captain Marvel (M. Rambeau), Cloak, Colossus, Cypher, Dagger, Hawkeye (C. Barton), Hercules, Hulk, Human Torch (J. Storm), Invisible Woman, Iron Fist, Iron Man, Karma, Kitty Pryde, Luke Cage, Magik, Magma, Magneto, Mephisto, Mirage, Mockingbird, Mr. Fantastic, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Nightcrawler, Northstar, Puck, Rachel Summers, Rogue, Scarlet Witch, Shaman, Silver Surfer, Snowbird, Spider-Man, Talisman, Thing, Thor, Tigra, Vision, Warlock, Wasp, Wolfsbane, Wolverine, Wonder Man | Leave a Comment »
February 21, 2012
Jim Shooter // Al Milgrom
February 1986
*
The Beyonder, annoyed w/ the enigma of existence, contemplates destroying it. #8 epitomizes what’s wrong w/ SW2. Shooter, having imagined godlike beings such as Korvac, wants to draw an omnipotent Hamlet—all introspection & inaction—but he’s no Shakespeare. The ersatz philosophy is fun to read.
[continued from The Defenders #152]
[see also The New Mutants #37]
[see also The Amazing Spider-Man #274]
[continued in The Avengers #265]
[last issue: Secret Wars II #7 of 9]
[next issue: Secret Wars II #9 of 9]
Tags:Al Milgrom, Jim Shooter
Posted in Beyonder, Black Knight (D. Whitman), Cannonball, Captain America, Captain Marvel (M. Rambeau), Colossus, Hercules, Hulk, Karma, Magik, Magma, Magneto, Mirage, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Rachel Summers, Rogue, Spider-Man, Warlock, Wolverine | Leave a Comment »
February 20, 2012
Jim Shooter // Al Milgrom
January 1986
*
The Marvel U’s version of Satan aims to destroy the Beyonder w/ Kirbytech & a battalion of supervillains. Luckily, the Thing has Big B’s back. Since last ish, the godling has gotten lost in meditation. His passivity & fiendish temptation could be holy, but in Shooter’s hands it’s just dull & inert.
[continued from Power Man & Iron Fist #121]
[continued in The New Mutants #36]
[last issue: Secret Wars II #6 of 9]
[next issue: Secret Wars II #8 of 9]
Tags:Al Milgrom, Jim Shooter
Posted in Beyonder, Cannonball, Colossus, Cypher, Dr. Doom, Emma Frost, Kang the Conqueror, Karma, Kitty Pryde, Magma, Magneto, Mephisto, Mirage, Nightcrawler, Rachel Summers, Rogue, Spider-Man, Storm, Sunspot, Thing, Ultron, Warlock, Wolfsbane, Wolverine | Leave a Comment »
February 18, 2012
Jim Shooter // Al Milgrom
November 1985
**
The Beyonder picks a fight w/ Kirby space-gods, a good concept wasted by dull fight choreography. The protag does have an emotional arc—unable to return to his home dimension, he’s now sulking w/ a mutant teen runaway—but his moods are impossible to follow if you don’t get every crossover issue.
[continued from The Avengers #261]
[continued in The Thing #30]
[last issue: Secret Wars II #4 of 9]
[next issue: Secret Wars II #6 of 9]
Tags:Al Milgrom, Jim Shooter
Posted in Beyonder, Black Knight (D. Whitman), Boom-Boom, Cannonball, Captain America, Captain Marvel (M. Rambeau), Celestials, Colossus, Dr. Strange, Hawkeye (C. Barton), Hercules, Human Torch (J. Storm), Invisible Woman, Iron Man, Kitty Pryde, Mockingbird, Mr. Fantastic, Nightcrawler, Rachel Summers, Rogue, She-Hulk, Starfox, Sunspot, Thor, Tigra, Warlock, Wasp, Wolfsbane, Wolverine, Wonder Man | Leave a Comment »
February 14, 2012
Jim Shooter // Al Milgrom
July 1985
**
Despite its plodding pace, bad characterization, & awful action, Secret Wars sold comics so it earns a sequel. Luckily, SW2 seems to have a smarter concept than “good v. bad”. Its blank-slate protagonist, a godlike entity called the Beyonder, seeks experience & wisdom on Earth—& finds superhero violence.
[continued in The New Mutants #30]
[continued in Captain America #308]
[continued in Iron Man #197]
[next issue: Secret Wars II #2 of 9]
Tags:Al Milgrom, Jim Shooter
Posted in Beyonder, Cannonball, Captain America, Colossus, Dazzler, Iron Man, Kitty Pryde, Magik, Magneto, Mirage, Nightcrawler, Professor X, Rachel Summers, Rogue, Sunspot, War Machine, Warlock, Wolfsbane, Wolverine | Leave a Comment »