Archive for the ‘Wolfsbane’ Category
January 28, 2015
John Francis Moore // Steve Epting & Terry Dodson
June 1995
***
Factor X lucks into significance, due mainly to a focus on Cyclops. His arc of redemption, facilitated by Jean Grey, ends w/ him leading a mutant prison to freedom! But the mini’s also had finer ideas than most of the second-tier AoA, like a Mengele “dark” Beast & the happy-go-lucky Bedlam Brothers.
continued in X-Men: Omega #1 of 1
last issue: Factor X #3 of 4
also indexed for Jun. ’95
The Amazing X-Men #4 of 4
The Astonishing X-Men #4 of 4
Gambit and the X-Ternals #4 of 4
Generation Next #4 of 4
Weapon X #4 of 4
X-Calibre #4 of 4
X-Man #4
X-Men: Chronicles #2 of 2
X-Men: Omega #1 of 1
X-Universe #2 of 2
Tags:John Francis Moore, Steve Epting, Terry Dodson
Posted in Angel (W. Worthington), Bedlam Brothers, Cannonball, Cyclops, Dark Beast, Havok, Infinites, Jean Grey, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
January 27, 2015
John Francis Moore // Steve Epting & Terry Dodson
May 1995
**
Jean Grey arrives from Weapon X to help Cyclops w/ his redemption. The elaborate interlacing of this Days of Future Past homage is its best part, tho’ even Factor X can feel like a set of plot points. Plus the ’90s focus on Scott S & Jean G means cornball dreck about their romantic destiny.
last issue: Factor X #2 of 4
next issue: Factor X #4 of 4
also indexed for May ’95
The Amazing X-Men #3 of 4
The Astonishing X-Men #3 of 4
Gambit and the X-Ternals #3 of 4
Generation Next #3 of 4
Weapon X #3 of 4
X-Calibre #3 of 4
X-Man #3
X-Universe #1 of 2
Tags:John Francis Moore, Steve Epting, Terry Dodson
Posted in Angel (W. Worthington), Apocalypse, Bedlam Brothers, Cannonball, Cyclops, Dark Beast, Elizabeth Guthrie, Havok, Infinites, Jean Grey, Rex, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
January 25, 2015
John Francis Moore // Steve Epting
March 1995
***
Given the weakness of X-Factor, this revision is one of the happier surprises of the AoA metaseries. The mag reverts to the original X-team, mutant aristos in this dystopic alt-NYC & acolytes of Mr. Sinister, whose eugenic intrigues provide the catalyst for change among mutant siblings & rivals.
continued from X-Men: Alpha #1 of 1
next issue: Factor X #2 of 4
also indexed for Mar. ’95
The Amazing X-Men #1 of 4
The Astonishing X-Men #1 of 4
Gambit and the X-Ternals #1 of 4
Generation Next #1 of 4
Weapon X #1 of 4
X-Calibre #1 of 4
X-Man #1
X-Men: Chronicles #1 of 2
Tags:John Francis Moore, Steve Epting
Posted in Angel (W. Worthington), Aurora, Avalanche, Bedlam Brothers, Cannonball, Cyclops, Dark Beast, Elizabeth Guthrie, Havok, Henry Peter Gyrich, Mr. Sinister, Northstar, Phantazia, Pyro, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
January 5, 2015
John Francis Moore & Todd DeZago // Jan Duursema
December 1994
*
By pitting the govt.-sanctioned mutant team against their Claremont forerunners, Moore et al could’ve added complexity to this mag’s concept. Instead they offer strike-force comics w/ macho posturing & overwrought dialogue. Then an autistic teen mutant cleans their clock & babbles nonsensically.
last issue: X-Factor #108
next issue: X-Factor #110
also indexed for Dec. ’94
The Uncanny X-Men #119
Tags:Jan Duursema, John Francis Moore, Todd DeZago
Posted in Avalanche, Forge, Gabrielle Haller, Havok, Legion, Mystique, Polaris, Strong Guy, Val Cooper, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
January 4, 2015
John Francis Moore & Todd DeZago // Jan Duursema
November 1994
*
Nick Fury & Forge send the US govt. team to Israel in pursuit of Mystique, who aims to murder her late lover’s killer: the comatose, schizoid son of Prof Xavier. Sadly, Duursema (a woman) follows sexist ’90s conventions, drawing conical breasts & disproportionately long legs in the period Jim Lee style.
last issue: X-Factor #107
next issue: X-Factor #109
Tags:Jan Duursema, John Francis Moore, Todd DeZago
Posted in Avalanche, Forge, Gabrielle Haller, Havok, Legion, Mystique, Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD, Nightcrawler, Polaris, Rogue, Strong Guy, Val Cooper, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
January 3, 2015
Todd DeZago // Paul Borges
October 1994
**
Ah, ’90s X-comics! After Phalanx Covenant intruded on #106, #107 kicks off a 3-issue arc that acts as prologue to a prelude (!) for the next mutant X-over, Age of Apocalypse. Oddly it’s also a fill-in, by a pretty okay no-name artist. Strong Guy v. the Blob (of Freedom Force) on an airport runway.
last issue: X-Factor #106
next issue: X-Factor #108
Tags:Paul Borges, Todd DeZago
Posted in Blob, Forge, Havok, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane | 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 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 »
August 28, 2010
Peter David // Joe Quesada
April 1993
A-story: **** // B-story: ***
Citing the long delays & editorial meddling, David abandons X-Factor. Too bad: he’s finally partnered w/ a perfect artist in Joe Q, whose cartoon style adds to the comedy, pathos, & character work that David loves. And he’s mid-story: the team finally arrives in Genosha, where evil plots are afoot.
[continued in X-Factor Annual #7]
[last issue: X-Factor #88]
[next issue: X-Factor #90]
Tags:Joe Quesada, Peter David
Posted in Crystal, Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
August 27, 2010
Peter David // Joe Quesada & Chris Batista
March 1993
A-story: **** // B-story: ***
David finally returns to his long-interrupted arc on mutant refugees, half a year later. They & X-Factor face a cigar-chomping satire of ’90s kewl mutant mercs whose muscle-bound body morphs to counter any opponent (Havok simply pays him off). A back-up gets cozy w/ Quicksilver & his estranged wife.
[last issue: X-Factor #87]
[next issue: X-Factor #89]
Tags:Chris Batista, Joe Quesada, Peter David
Posted in Crystal, Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
August 26, 2010
Peter David // Joe Quesada
February 1993
*****
Nearly out of the blue, a classic—arguably, the best single X-issue of the ’90s. The team gets mandatory counseling for PTSD: beneath their mutant angst, they display normal human neuroses. Rookie Quesada’s art helps, natch, his doe-eyes & floppy hair adding sensitivity to David’s intimate script.
[last issue: X-Factor #86]
[next issue: X-Factor #88]
Tags:Joe Quesada, Peter David
Posted in Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
August 25, 2010
Peter David // Jae Lee
January 1993
**
The crossover continues to crawl (tho’ it can only spare a page or two for X-Factor‘s regulars): the all-action force of Bishop, Cable & Wolvie literally sit around doing nothing! The only plot point is that Apocalypse cures Prof X of the technovirus using a bit of Kirbytech. I’ll miss Lee’s art.
[continued from Uncanny X-Men #286]
[continued in X-Men #16]
[last issue: X-Factor #85]
[next issue: X-Factor #87]
Tags:Jae Lee, Peter David
Posted in Angel (W. Worthington), Beast, Bishop, Cable, Cyclops, Havok, Iceman, Jean Grey, Multiple Man, Polaris, Professor X, Psylocke, Storm, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane, Wolverine | Leave a Comment »
August 23, 2010
Peter David // Jae Lee
November 1992
***
Jae Lee has a Sienkowicz-but-brutal style that would prob’ly fit X-Force better than -Fac. Luckily, #84 is also #2 of an x-over that sees this title’s g-men outfight the aggro X-Force while hunting for Cable (who shot Prof. X in Central Park). David finds the issue’s hook in Rahne, caught. btw. teams.
[continued from Uncanny X-Men #284]
[continued in X-Men #14]
[last issue: X-Factor #83]
[next issue: X-Factor #85]
Tags:Jae Lee, Peter David
Posted in Angel (W. Worthington), Beast, Bishop, Boom-Boom, Cannonball, Cyclops, Feral, Gambit, Havok, Jean Grey, Multiple Man, Polaris, Professor X, Psylocke, Quicksilver, Rictor, Rogue, Shatterstar, Siryn, Storm, Strong Guy, Sunspot, Wolfsbane, Wolverine | Leave a Comment »
August 22, 2010
Peter David // Mark Pacella
October 1992
***
After laying groundwork for a human-rights crisis in Genosha, the arc’s momentum stalls. Instead, #83 offers some character scenes as X-Fac chaperones mutant refugees in NYC. Except for the hate-crime in Central Park, the ish feels like a fill-in—it’s keeping time till next month’s big X-over.
[last issue: X-Factor #82]
[next issue: X-Factor #84]
Tags:Mark Pacella, Peter David
Posted in Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
August 20, 2010
Peter David // Larry Stroman
August 1992
***
David caps off this arc nicely w/ X-Fac facing a Wolverine foe in a DC Metro station. Plus he adds a dash of cynicism: Strong Guy, poisoned, argues for exchanging their witness for the antidote (rather than trust a govt. cure). In the subplot, Madrox gets his heart broken by his nutso music teacher.
[last issue: X-Factor #80]
[next issue: X-Factor #82]
Tags:Larry Stroman, Peter David
Posted in Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
August 19, 2010
Peter David // Larry Stroman
July 1992
**
Even w/ Stroman’s atypical approach to superhero art, this ish is boilerplate. Our g-men, guarding a snitch, slug it out w/ an all-girl mutant gang (Hell’s Belles, great name). The small-town plot moves along, w/ the music teacher proving a femme fatale. And a dream sequence riffs on Wayne’s World.
[continued from X-Factor Annual #7]
[last issue: X-Factor #79]
[next issue: X-Factor #81]
Tags:Larry Stroman, Peter David
Posted in Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
August 16, 2010
Peter David // Larry Stroman & Brandon Peterson
May 1992
***
Applied comics conventions as a vehicle to explore ’90s politics: mutant terrorists assassinate a doc who can detect mutant DNA in utero. Tho’ the plot dances around abortion (& eugenics) w/o taking a side, the theme draws characters out in surprising ways, as both good guys & bad have dissenters.
[last issue: X-Factor #77]
[next issue: X-Factor #79]
Tags:Brandon Peterson, Larry Stroman, Peter David
Posted in Cyclops, Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Professor X, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
August 15, 2010
Peter David // Larry Stroman
April 1992
****
A recharged Stroman pencils some lovely layouts, esp. around Rahne. And David carries Claremont’s X-torch w/ deft character beats, a seamless take on the mutant world (#77 guests Cannonball & terrorist foes from X-Force) & even poli-philo like due process for super-criminals & fetal DNA tests.
[continued from The Incredible Hulk #392]
[last issue: X-Factor #76]
[next issue: X-Factor #78]
Tags:Larry Stroman, Peter David
Posted in Cannonball, Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
August 14, 2010
Peter David // Tom Raney & Kevin West
March 1992
***
As part of Uncle Sam’s clandestine support for a foreign despot, our mutant g-men face a tech-heavy superteam allied w/ the Hulk. But aside from some high-&-mighty moralizing on non-Western culture’s treatment of women (berserker Wolfsbane kills a murderer!), the ish is standard superhero tussle.
[continued from The Incredible Hulk #391]
[continued in The Incredible Hulk #392]
[last issue: X-Factor #75]
[next issue: X-Factor #77]
Tags:Kevin West, Peter David, Tom Raney
Posted in Havok, Hulk, Multiple Man, Polaris, Quicksilver, Rick Jones, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
August 13, 2010
Peter David // Larry Stroman
February 1992
**
The new X-Factor’s inaugural story ends, double-sized, in a rote slugfest. X-foe Mr. Sinister, his motives inscrutable as usual, bolsters the team’s cred by discrediting his own ally, an anti-mutant senator. Havok’s arc of accepting his role as mutant g-man (set up in #72) has been dropped. But David does keep probing the ramifications of Madrox’s power: a rogue dupe struggles to assert itself.
[continued in The Incredible Hulk #390]
[last issue: X-Factor #74]
[next issue: X-Factor #76]
Tags:Larry Stroman, Peter David
Posted in Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
August 11, 2010
Peter David // Larry Stroman
January 1992
**
Tho’ #74 is mostly combat (the team topples the Wash. Monument!), David still advances his subplots, develops his characters, & unveils the arc’s villain: a right-wing senator working w/ Mr. Sinister. But Stroman’s art fails to show spatial relations & the ’90s line superfluities are starting to grate.
[last issue: X-Factor #73]
[next issue: X-Factor #75]
Tags:Larry Stroman, Peter David
Posted in Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
August 10, 2010
Peter David // Larry Stroman
December 1991
***
Under the pop culture nods, #73 stages the team’s first battle: a brawl w/ Multiple Men! David is parodying the influential Claremont, adding a comedic tone to arcing plots, mystery villains, & angsty romances. Stro’s art, full of expressionist lines, works okay but he skimps on the Wash DC setting.
[last issue: X-Factor #72]
[next issue: X-Factor #74]
Tags:Larry Stroman, Peter David
Posted in Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »
August 8, 2010
Peter David // Larry Stroman
October 1991
***
Defined by smart characters & a breezy tone, X-Factor stands out from the rest of the X-books, now overhauled to favor artists over writers. In this chatty riff on a team-building issue, Havok’s recruited to lead the new federal mutant super-squad, a motley crew of second bananas (Multiple Man?!).
[last issue: X-Factor #70]
[next issue: X-Factor #72]
Tags:Larry Stroman, Peter David
Posted in Cyclops, Havok, Multiple Man, Polaris, Professor X, Quicksilver, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane | Leave a Comment »