More X-Force Annual Preview Pages

New pages for the X-Force Annual announced earlier. I should say, I certainly do not look forward to reading this book. Actually, this Annual makes me angry - Wolverine has his freaking share of ongoings, minis, solos and guest appearances! And so does or new "He's in so many books I'm starting to hate him"-King - Deadpool. Maybe the writers forget that X-Force is a complicated team and its actual leader is Cyclops and this team actually HAS other members. And putting them on two (or less) pages doesn't make it X-Force comics. I think X-23, Warpath, Elixir and Domino made enough this year to deserve to be in they're own annual comic book. Disgusting. And Deadpool - yeah, he might join the team, maybe even in this book, but still, annual should be about all team members. If you still haven't given up on hope to see the team in much more than just the preview pages - just look at the cover. Still, Laura is on the list of people to play some role in one of the stories smiling like she never does and already telling us she'll be badly out-of-character-written, so who knows?

X-Force #20 Review

After a weekly delay X-Force #20 is finally out. 20th issue is the final issue of the "Not Forgotten" arc telling a story about Laura being kidnapped by the Facility. I guess it would be in order to look back and see what exactly we saw here. My little review might content SPOILERS.
Personally, I'll eat up everything you give me with Laura in it. I might not love it, but I will read it. Especially if Yost and Kyle are the writers and Oback and Choi are the artists. I'm not entirely sure if I liked this ark or not. There's nothing to say to the art - it's perfect as always. But it's the story that bothers me. Single issues are good, they could be much better (who needs lame Snow Giants storyline? It was such a waste of pages!) but they are OK. We saw Yost and Kyle writing much better stories, though. If you look at Not Forgotten as at a complete story you realize that it... kinda didn't tell us anything. There's absolutely nothing new except for agent Morales. We didn't learn anything new about Laura or about Kimura (her promise to eat Laura's brain was hardcore even for her, though), the Facility is just the way it was in the first X-23 series, minus a lot of coolness... I don't know. I am very thankful that we got a story about Laura, but in the end it was like smelling food instead of eating it. The end of the 20st issue still impressed me, no matter how old the whole object of Kimura being a bitch was. Laura's reaction really got to me. Kimura's words really made me shake a little. I really understood what Laura felt at the moment, I could foresee her reaction although I would never logically suggest X'll burst in tears. But she did. Moments like that make me realize how much I love X-23.

P. S.: The cover sucks. Not visually, it is. People, we all know the covers are not supposed to tell the exact truth, but if they lie they should symbolize something. This cover - it looks at us and thinks we are idiots.

Hulk #15 Review

I actually do not read any of this stuff, so here are the pics of Laura fighting the Punisher, nothing more =) I really tried to find a good review, but they all say basically the same: "Wolverine fights the Hulk, Domino fights Elektra" (in a nice way) and so on and so on, I guess It's not wrong, there isn't really anything else to say but the reviews are funny to read - reminds me of a cook book. Well, it's Hulk comics we're talking about.
Oh, and I really hope it's some kind of a different universe here. You know, because otherwise the way X-Force doesn't even try to kill, the mare fact of X-Force's appearance in this ridiculous bar and most of all the way Laura chitchats like an idiotic Domino ripoff ... No, this simply can be that stupid, can it?

X-Force #19 Review

Sorry it's been so long, but I waited for a good reviews to come up. Enjoy if you didn't read it already. SPOILERS ALERT!

The issue opens with Agent Morales being interviewed for a position with the Facility by a man named Young. While she does not like the idea of using a child as an assassin, she is shown the files of all the people X-23 has killed and told she will be eliminated if she should refuse the offer. Morales decides against the job and takes out Young quickly. Kimura is in the process of cutting off Laura’s other arm when Morales interrupts the process by shooting Kimura in the head. She frees Laura and X-23 grabs her severed arm and they start to exit the room while Kimura is regaining her wits. The agent is unaware of X-23’s healing and is shocked at how she is able to function. Back with the X-Men, Elixir has gone into a coma after saving Surge and is being helped by the Science team while his friends look on. Heller wants to look for X-23 but Scott refuses saying Wolverine will handle it. Bastion contacts Pierce within the X-Men’s prison and tells him to remain in place and monitor the Leper Queen’s body. Meanwhile, Wolverine and Domino are pushing the Cuckoos to their limit to locate Laura. They fail repeatedly but do find Rahne. Wolfsbane and her Prince have just defeated the Frost Giants and Rahne transforms to her intermediate form and immediately collapses to the snow. At the same time, Selene is in New Orleans and has gotten a new reanimated mutant that Caliban has found. It is Destiny. Back in the Facility base, Laura has informed Morales that Kimura is bulletproof. The agent asks what they should do and X-23 tells her to run. They flee down the hall and Laura is able to drop a security door on her enemy pinning the woman in place. Kimura then orders the building to be locked down. The fugitives are trying to figure out a plan. Morales thinks Laura would know the layout but the girl did not grow up there. She gives Morales a hard time about not doing proper research and then asks why the agent wants to help her. They are interrupted by guards but manage to flee through a closing security door. The women end up in a lab where they continue their argument. It ends when Laura sees a vial of the trigger scent in Morales hand. When X-23 pops her claws, Morales drops the vial but Laura catches it. A look around shows huge vats of the scent being manufactured.

I didn't like how Laura was drawn in this issue, so there won't be any pics of her in this review. But I still have something - Julian Keller wanting to help Laura (one smile for Hellix fans) and proof of Loa being Elixir's girlfriend (one sigh for Elix fans). But you know what - I'm tired of waiting for the writers to give as at least SOME Hellion/Laura time, so I don't expect Hellion to act despite Cyclops' order (like he should and like he would!)

Dark X-Men: The Confession Review

I've read some very bad reviews about this issue and I think I can see why many readers didn't exactly love it and why it wasn't worth their money. If you wanted to see something new here, you would be disappointed. The issue reveals us facts we knew long time ago - X-Force, Namor, Cabal, Norman. For a casual reader it's practically a waste of time. BUT. I am a Emma/Scott shipper. I LOVE this couple. I've awaited their reunion for such a long time. And I also never expected ANYTHING but them in this issue. I read "The Confession" to finally see if they get together again.So for me this issue was a heaven's gift and i totally LOVED it. I'm happy and I don't care if Emma is all bitchy-cold-diamond now.

The story is simple: Scott finds a letter from Emma saying she is about to kill someone and probably will die trying. Emma is gone. Cyclops panics, runs through the base looking for her, asks everyone... and then there she is, dressed up, packed. She tells him she can't leave without saying goodbye. And then they start talking. What's funny is that it seems like they don't listen to each other and talk simultaneously. Scott tells Emma about X-Force, she tells him she slept with Namor and Tony Stark in the past. She also reveals the truth about Cabal and anything else and confesses that she was up to kill Norman Osborn but then came back to Scott. And then she says something else, something very very cool:

And after that they forgive each other completely, Scott tells her he loves her and gives her a passionate kiss. Applause. Laura is on some pages in the flashbacks of X-Force. Cute and somehow in a good mood:

Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus Review

SPOILER ALERT! 7 days ago, Beast confronts Scott and Emma about the secrets both have been keeping. Now at the Utopia island, Osborn orders his Dark Avengers and Dark X-Men to attack the X-Men, and many battles are ensued. Colossus takes on Venom. Nekra, Bling! and Frenzy get their revenge on Moonstone. Psylocke and the X-Club beat Dark Beast. Iceman and the kids ambush the Mimic. X-23, Pixie and Armor fight Daken. Wolverine stabs Weapon Omega. Namor tries to stop the Sentry, but it's useless. Emma reaches Xavier and asks for his help so she can enter the Sentry's mind and lobotomize him. Emma succeeds and holds the Void inside his mind, so the Sentry can be himself again and take control. Horrified by his actions, the Sentry flees to outer space. As soon as Ares arrives, Dani Moonstar returns as a Valkyrie to stop him. Dani easily overcomes Ares and brings him down to his knees. While Osborn is busy fighting with Cyclops, Moonstar tells him there are too many mutants and that the only way to win is by killing them all, which they can't as there are cameras all around. With nothing left to do, Osborn decides to leave the island with his Avengers and X-Men. The X-Men celebrate their victory, as Cyclops gives a press conference telling the world that their island is sacred and no mutant will be harmed there. They're free. Back to the USA, Osborn too gives a press conference celebrating his victory for as long as the mutants remain on that island, no American citzen will have to worry about them anymore. Moments later, mutants from all around the world arrive at Utopia and start building their new home.

Hulk #14 Review

I totally missed this issue, partly because I didn't know X-Force was involved and mostly because I absolutely do not give a shit about Hulk and Loeb's work, so when I read it, I decided to share the pictures of X-23 and X-Force with you. I didn't read the issue (it was obvious that this crossover only exist because no one is buying "Hulk" and you shouldn't expect something new or interesting in here anyway), so I kinda found you reviews here and here. Enjoy! =) Now to the pictures - there is plenty of Domino and only three shots of Laura, in one of which she is hiding in the background playing dart.

X-Force #18 Review

And now about the bad news. This article is full of spoilers, so read carefully.

Writers: Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost
Art: Mike Choi & Sonia Oback

The issue opens with H.A.M.M.E.R. departing with X-23. They leave two soldiers behind with orders to kill Boom Boom. One them is starting to get a little frisky when Proudstar shows up and kills him. He takes out the other goon as well and is tending to Tabitha as he sees the sudden light show. Domino is racing to the source of the disturbance only to find Archangel and Wolverine have things under control although Noriko, Elixir and Keller are all down. They transport the youngsters to a nearby safe house and try to figure out what happened to Laura. X-23 is being transported by H.A.M.M.E.R. They land in the Facility where Kimura and the scientists are waiting to take custody of her. We get a brief interlude with Rahne and her Wolf Prince fighting the Frost Giants. Hrimhari is doing a good job hurting them and orders Wolfsbane away but she refuses, wanting to stay and fight at his side. Another scene change and we find Caliban, Eli Bard and Wither at a grave in Salem Center. They somehow raise the occupant and we see it is Doug Ramsey. Back at the X-Men headquarters, Surge, Foley and Hellion are being tended by Beast. Wolverine tackles Cyclops and pins him to the ground telling him if anything happens to the kids it is his fault. Cyclops takes responsibility and Logan fills him in on a bit of their mission to the future. He leaves to try and find Laura. Wolverine, Domino and Proudstar interrogate Tabitha and she remembers the name S.H.I.E.L.D. Division C. That sparks something to Logan and he orders the Cuckoos into Cerebra. We then see Laura being rudely awakened by Kimura. One arm has already been cut off and Kimura is applying a chainsaw to rest of her.

I hated it. I mean I totally loved it, especially the part where Logan and Scott solve their problem like men, but still. First - shitty add-story about Rahne and her lover boy. SO not interested. Then - so little Laura in her own story ark, I could hang myself. And off course the fact that everything we get to read about X is just indescribably bad. Our girl is in trouble.

I just have to mention that neither Hellion nor Surge have died and it's awesome! You can finally officially rest, true believers. They are hurt, Elixir got the worst from it, and I somehow see some bad stuff coming for him at the and of it, but alive is alive. I'm just very happy to see them in this issue. God, I want Hellion on the team!

As usuall, I'm looking forward to reading next issue. I just can't wait. X-Force is the best comic book ever.

Dark Avengers #8 Review

I'm back on truck and happy to be, so let's not waste time =) Here is a review of Dark Avengers #8, please beware the spoilers!

Writer: Matt Fraction
Penciler: Luke Goss
Inker: Rick Magyar, Mark Pennington & Luke Goss

The issue opens with Dani in Las Vegas making a deal with Hela to become a Valkyrie. Back in San Francisco, Emma’s X-Men have taken down Trask and spend the next week endearing themselves to the city while Cyclops sits and waits. The Dark X-Men get a look at the Omega Machine and Cloak and Dagger are really upset with the pain it causes its subjects. Meanwhile, Osborn is very happy with the new team and is ready to pull the Avengers out of the city as a show of good faith. The X-Men Science team finally finishes their work underwater and fire up the engines starting the process of powering up the machines. We flash to Alcatraz island where Dark Beast is putting Hank McCoy through the Omega Machine to power up Omega. He goes to get another subject only to find that they are all gone. X-force has arrived and used Illyana to teleport out all the prisoners. Dark Beast screams for backup and Omega comes running while the rest of Emma’s team mobilizes. Scott gives the command and they raise up what looks to be Asteroid M in the middle of the bay and Pixie starts moving the mutants to their new home. Omega and Dark Beast face X-Force and are carved up quickly. The rest of the team arrives and Daken starts making threats about killing them all. He is taken down from behind by Emma while Namor deals with Mimic. Illyana makes one more teleport trip to take everyone out. Emma convinces Cloak and Dagger to come along as well. Scott holds a press conference on his new island home with Emma at his side. He says that they have left the mainland but will not be pushed or prosecuted any more. He throws down the gauntlet for Osborn who accepts, taking the remaining Dark X-Men and his Avengers on the attack.

This issue surprised me in a VERY good way, because I really missed my precious brilliant kick ass Emma Frost. And even more I missed her being with Cyclops. I guess I can even forgive all the crap Fraction fed us with all the time just for Emma's face when she was ready with Daken.

Here you go, my girl! I never doubted you, just like Wolverine.

The Daken vs. X-23 cover is off course a total BS. Jesus, people, stop putting Laura on covers to get people interested! If they buy more comics because she is a superstar Marvel teenager AND you know it, why not, you know, actually put her in the book? Doing, well, what she's doing on the cover. Laura is mentioned to appear in awesome Dark Wolverine series, though, so it could be OK. The bad thing is - in his own series, Daken is way too cool-smart-sexy-blahblah. I think we should not underestimate him, but it's just like creepy Mary Sue fan fiction.

Now of Laura's appearances. She is good drawn and in her bad Messiah Complex costume.

And she kicks Omega's ass.

Prick deserved it! But what disturbs me the most, just like in the previous Utopia chapter, is the way she talks.

No way. Laura Kinney just doesn't do compliments. On the mission. To anybody. And even more than that - she would never patronize Domino. But we get her even cameo-style. It's still great.

Uncanny X-Men #514 review

I think I can say that this story is good. If not quality-good, then totally quantity-good. You see a lot of awesome characters, that Mr. Hellfire rightfully called "cameo queens", you get a LOT of fan service, good God, what more can we possibly await from Fraction's run? Personally, I would be OK with this whole unnecessary story, if not for Cyclops/Emma conflict. I sure as hell hope they're gonna get together eventually. There is a couple of spoilers, which are absolutely not spoilers at all: There is only one cool thing - Bullseye/Daken action. No, it IS lame, but I happen to like Bullseye a whole lot and their strange relationship is bothering me since the beginning of Dark Wolverine series. Seeing one of my favorite characters (Emma Frost) touching other of my favorite characters (Bullseye) is fun. Which brings me to the next point: This is a nice cover of Simone Bianchi. Let's oversee Laura's face and just be happy. Aw, if only the authors would not just draw covers with her, but would also actually write, you know?


Laura also appears at the end for one page and calls Warpath James, which is a little out of character and annoys me. She works with Warpath, Domino, Wolverine and Magik.

About other stuff: Cyclops summons a team of girls (Iceman, Northstar, Colossus and Warpath being the only exceptions) and gives them different specific orders. He also assembles the X-Club to do some research underwater (is it a lame excuse to change Psylocke's costume like he promised? Is it?). Dark X-Men do some "cool" fighting, that, honestly, is lame beyond description, and all the X-Men do is "watch and learn". We also get a L.A.M.E (even for him!) Cyclops' "We are a team, goddammit!" speech. Reminds me of his Astonishing X-Men 01 quote: "Even I was bored". Emma is saying "Darling" probably more than she ever has and even in plural. This is just sad, Matt. Really. We get a HILARIOUS picture of Emma and Namor standing with their asses pressed on each other, like they're dancing drunk. I laughed my ass off.

So, we get not-so-bad but also not-so-good issue and hope that next two will finally show us more than just some women running around. Not that it's a bad thing, of course.