Sandman Overture #1 Review

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JH Williams III, Morpheus, Neil Gaiman, Sandman, Sandman Overture, Sandman Overture #1, Vertigo

Sandman Overture #1

Review by Paul Bowler

It has been twenty five years since The Sandman changed the world of modern comics, now best selling writer Neil Gaiman’s fabled series has finally returned, with the stunning prequel: Sandman Overture, which tells the events leading up to Morpheus’ capture by an occultist at the start of the Sandman series. This incredible six issue mini-series by the legendary Neil Gaiman marks the return to the series that made him famous. Sandman Overture also features the stunning artwork of award winning artist JH Williams III, whose lavish imagery provides a suitably epic vista for the Sandman’s origin. Sandman Overture will feature cameos by many popular characters, including The Corinthian, Merv, Pumpkinhead, and Morpheus’ siblings Death, Despair, Desire, Delirium, Destruction, and Destiny, in a story revealing how the Dream King could be captured as we discover the untold secrets of the Endless…

Sandman Overture #1 takes us to a distant star system, where a tiny world with two moons and its three distinct species, of furred humanoids, swarming insects, and delicate plant life with the most beautiful minds of all live as one. The harmonious dreams of one of one plants unfurls like its petals to welcome that which it has never encountered before, a visitor who is soon consumed by a tragic fate, one that ripples out across the dreamscape…

As the Corinthian stalks a new victim in London 1915, Destiny studies the pages of the universe he carries. Turning a page the rarest of events occur, Destiny summons his sister, Death, as he walks his gallery, even though he does not know why, Death knows the events of a hundred galaxies away heralds a dark turn of events for Dream.

George Portcullis has the strangest recurring dream, he manages an office in London for a man he has never met, but one day his master finally arrives, Morpheus the Dream King, and he is expecting a visitor, the Corinthian. Displeased with the Corinthian’s conduct, Morpheus prepares to pass judgment on his creation, but the Dream King is suddenly compelled to leave by a strange calling he has never experienced before…

Sandman Overture #1 is everything we could have hoped for and more. Neil Gaiman’s long awaited return to the Sandman universe brings us an unimaginable box of delight to enjoy, with its grand scope and scale, intricate storyline, and wonderful characters you are immediately immersed in the sheer majesty and dark splendour of the Dream Kings world. The opening events in a distant galaxy masterfully draws your into the story, which quickly branches out to encompass the Corinthian’s sinister ploy to ensnare his next hapless victim, while the pages of the cosmos splay out before Destiny as he summons Death who in turn seeks council from her brother. We join Morpheus as he arrives at his London office within the dream of George Portcullis. In his meeting with the Corinthian, the Dream King voices his displeasure at how the Corinthian has defiled the laws set by Council of the First Circle.

However, before Morpheus can act, he is summoned away by unknown forces. Resisting for a time at least, the Dream King returns to his castle, where he is greeted by Lucien. As he dresses for battle, Morpheus is puzzled when Lucien asks if he is coming back. Morpheus’ reply to the question is cut short, as he is suddenly taken away, pulled across the cosmos, where he finds he is not the only one compelled to answer this strange calling.

The art by JH Williams III is simply stunning, every page is a glorious wide screen landscape, with exotic alien worlds, an uncanny glimpse into the pages of Destiny’s book against the gleaming expanse of the universe, to Morpheus’ dark London office and the wonder of his castle, Sandman Overture #1 surrounds and binds you within the rich tapestry of the Sandman’s mythology. The chilling POV from the Corinthian’s perspective are a macabre delight, alien’s worlds are rich and teeming with strange life forms, and Morpheus’ and his siblings look regal and magnificent. The colors by Dave Stewart complete these beautifully rendered scenes, with the striking pallet used for the alien world gradually giving way to the  swirling hues of Destiny’s realm, before plunging into the monochrome tones of Morpheus’ office that slowly warm with color as he arrives. Todd Klein’s letters complete the seamless blend of fantasy and reality, fusing perfectly with JH Williams’s art, entwining us with Neil Gaiman’s exquisite narrative to make this wondrous issue complete.

Sandman Overture #1 is the beginning of this 6 issue, bimonthly miniseries. By the time you reach the final page of this first issue you will be absolutely captivated by Neil Gaiman’s Sandman Overture. This book feels as if your are welcoming back an old friend, everything is familiar, but it also possesses a vibrancy and freshness of a treasured memory.

With its incredible double page interior artwork; choice of covers by JH Williams and Dave McKean, this release by Vertigo Comics is a superb return to the world of Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed comic book series.

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First Trailer For X-Men: Days of Future Past

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X-Men, X-Men Days of Future Past, X-Men Days of Future Past Trailer

First Trailer For X-Men: Days of Future Past

Check out the awesome first trailer for X-Men: Days of Future Past!

Doctor Who Classic Sereis The Sea Devils

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3rd Doctor, Doctor Who, island prison, Jo Grant, Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning, Roger Delgado, Royal Navy, Sea Devil, Sea Fort, Season Nine, The Doctor, The Master, The Sea Devils, UNIT

The Seas Devils

Review by Paul Bowler

The Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) decide to visit their old enemy, the Master (Roger Delgado), who has been imprisoned on an island prison off the south coast of England. After learning from the governor, Colonel Trenchard (Clive Morton), that ships have gone missing in the area, the Doctor decides to investigate and visit’s Captain Hart (Edwin Richfield) at the Naval base, where he discovers that all the ships have all disappeared in the vicinity of an old abandoned Sea Fort. The Doctor and Jo take a boat out to the fort and are attacked by a Sea Devil, an amphibious species, who once ruled the Earth in prehistoric time alongside their Silurian cousins.

Realizing that the Master is behind the theft of equipment at the Naval base, and was assisted by Trenchard, the Doctor tries to stop the renegade Time Lord from escaping, but he is too late to stop him from reviving the Sea Devils from hibernation. After narrowly escaping a Sea Devil on the beach, the Doctor and Jo escape through a mine field. Returning to the Naval base to warn Captain Hart, they lean that a submarine has gone missing. Determined not to make the same mistakes as he did with the Silurians, the Doctor uses a diving bell to reach the Sea Devils underwater base, but his attempts to find a peaceful solution are dashed when the Navy are ordered to attack the base with depth charges.

The Doctor helps the crew of the submarine escape and they return to the surface, but he is captured again when the Sea Devils attack the Naval Base. Back at the Sea Devils base the Doctor sabotages the Master’s machinery, the Sea Devils turn on them both, but they manage to escape before the underwater base is destroyed by a huge explosion. When they return to the surface the Master uses a disguise to distract everyone so he can escape in a hovercraft.

The Sea Devils (1972) sees the Doctor and Jo teaming up with the Royal Navy and Captain Hart for this sea faring adventure. Satisfied the Master is still under lock and key, the Doctor sets out to uncover the mystery surrounding the missing ships, and soon enlists the help of Captain Hart. This story was made with the help of the Royal Navy and so it naturally features a number of vehicles: including a motor boat, a diving bell, speedboats, and even a hovercraft – as well as a considerable amount of stock footage showcasing ships, submarines, helicopters, and footage of depth charges being detonated.

Jon Pertwee is right in the thick of the action as the 3^rd Doctor, battling Sea Devils one moment, and quickly seeing through the Masters deception the next. Katy Manning plays the ever resourceful Jo Grant, who keeps her cool even when they are stranded on the Sea Fort, and helps the Doctor escape from the prison after Trenchard’s treachery is revealed. Together the Doctor and Jo make a fantastic team, nevermore so than here, when their quick thinking and tenacity helps them keep one step ahead of the Master’s plans.

The Sea Devils themselves are one of the most distinctive monsters from the 3^rd Doctor’s era, director Michael Bryant slowly build up the suspense, using innovative camera angles and unnerving close-ups to maintain the mystery surround the creatures until the Doctor finally meets one face-to-face on the Sea Fort. As a race the Sea Devils are portrayed as highly intelligent creatures that are as agile on land as they are at sea. When the Doctor meets with their leader his peacemaking attempts are foiled by the Master, who has managed to convince the Sea Devils that man is weak, and goads them into starting a conflict with the humans anyway.

Few could forget the iconic moment when the Sea Devils rise from the sea. It’s a brilliant scene, one that still has a great impact, really building the excitement as the creatures shamble ashore. The design of the Sea Devils is very striking, and their attack on the Naval Base shows just how quick and deadly they can be as their quickly overwhelm the base. Despite his best efforts, the Doctor fails to convince the Sea Devil’s leader to break off their attacks, and he is left with no choice but to cause the power systems of their undersea base to overload – with The Doctor and the Master managing to escape to the surface before it explodes.

After being captured at the end of The Daemons (1971) the Master makes a welcome return in The Sea Devils. He effortlessly runs rings around his jailer, Trenchard, manipulating the pompous fool with malicious glee before Trenchard’s own misguided treachery leaves him at the mercy of the Sea Devils when they attack the prison to free the Master. The Sea Devils features one of Roger Delgado’s best performances as the renegade Time Lord, fiendishly plotting from his prison cell, causing havoc and chaos without hardy even stepping outside the room. There is a lovely scene where he switches on the television and smiles to himself a he watches The Rock Collector episode of the Clangers, he even jokes about the children’s programme to Trenchard, who fails to see the funny side, further exacerbating the Master and probably sealing his death warrant in the process.

The Sea Devils offers a real insight into the friendship the Time Lords once shared. It’s nice to see the Doctor’s genuine concern for his old enemy, even though their banter is still as barbed as ever, you get a sense of the great respect they still have for each other. Later, when the Doctor confronts the Master in his prison cell, he walks straight into a trap. What follows is a spectacular sword fight between the two Time Lords, its fantastic to watch as Pertwee and Delgado lock swords and duel, and every moment of this tense showdown is superbly choreographed. The 3^rd Doctor even takes time out to nibble a sandwich after he disarms the Master, before sportingly giving him back his sword, clearly enjoying every moment of this exhilarating confrontation.

This is a really good story, Michael Bryant’s direction is superb, the production values are also extremely high, with the regular cast all giving great performances, and the excellent location filming really makes The Sea Devils an extra special adventure. The only thing that mares the production is the somewhat bizarre electronic incidental music by Malcolm Clark, it works moderately well in the scenes set on the Sea Fort, but feels out of place and intrusive for much of the story. The Sea Devils is one of the most visually striking adventures from Season Nine, featuring some of the series most classic moments, and remains one of the best stories from the 3^rd Doctor’s era.

Captain America Winter Soldier Trailer!

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Captain America, Captain America Winter Soldier, Marvel

Captain America Winter Soldier Trailer Debuts

Check out the great new trailer for Captain America Winter Soldier!

Wolverine & The XMen #37 Review

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Battle of the Atom Part #9, Cyclops, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Jason Arron, Jean Grey, Original X-Men, SHIELD, The Brotherhood, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, Wolverine and the X-Men #37, X-Men, X-Men from the future, Xorn

Wolverine and the X-Men #37

Review by Paul Bowler

A team of X-Men from the future arrive in the present day, demanding the original X-Men be sent back to he past. Wolverine and most of the X-Men agreed, but the young Jean and Scott went on the run, but eventually gave themselves up. The present day X-Men discover their visitors are really the future Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. With the school in lockdown the Brotherhood must face the combined might of the Uncanny X-Men and the real future X-Men. However, as the battle rages  they prepare to forcibly send the young X-Men home, only to find that strange universal forces now prevent the teen mutants from going back.

Jean “Xorn” Grey and Cyclops get up close and personal on the psychic plane, giving the Brotherhood the chance to escape in the Blackbird with the original X-Men. Wolverine is healed by Wiccan after being gutted by Raze, the son he will apparently have with Mystique, and meets up with the Uncanny X-Men and future X-Men in the lab.

Meanwhile, the Brotherhood decide to switch to plan B after the Time Cube was unable to send the original X-Men back. Now that Deadpool is dead, and Xavier crippled and confined to a floating wheelchair, it seems that desperate measures are called for to complete their mission. Power dampeners prevent the captive teen X-Men from using their powers. Scott asks Jean what she learned during her battle with Xorn, she reveals they must return home to save the future, and she is able to pick up enough of the Brotherhood’s thoughts to know they are being taken to Cape Citadel – the place where the original X-Men first fought against Magneto.

After news of a homeland security alert at Cape Citadel reaches the Jean Grey school, Wolverine and Cyclops set aside their differences and agree to work together to rescue the original X-Men. Colossus and Magik teleport everyone to Cape Citadel, where the present day X-Men and future X-Men attack the Brotherhood. Phoenix Quentin Quire frees the young X-Men from their power dampeners, and they team up with Cyclops to attack Xorn. With the Brotherhood almost defeated a fleet of SHIELD helicarriers commanded by Mira Hill arrives, demanding that everyone surrender, but Xorn is not prepared to give up just yet…

Jason Arron makes this penultimate chapter of Battle of the Atom the most action packed yet, as Wolverine and the X-Men #37 brings all of the X-Teams, past, present, and future, together for a titanic showdown with the Brotherhood. I really like how the characters interact this issue, Jason Aaron includes some great character moments: with Cyclops and Wolverine begrudgingly setting aside their differences, we learn more about the Brotherhood’s plans, discover the truth about the Ice-Hulk, and Phoenix Quentin Quire meets his younger self. This issue is a lot of fun too, with Wolverine getting all the best lines, and we learn a lot more about the future X-Men as well.

Although we are no closer to really understanding the bizarre paradox that seems to prevent the original X-Men from returning to the past, right now it is what young Jean’s battle with Xorn revealed that is perhaps more intriguing, especially when she reveals that if they stay one of them could be responsible for something terrible. However, this issues cliff-hanger could offer some clue, as Xorn resolves to show everyone what the future holds for the X-Men.

Wolverine and the X-Men #37 features some great artwork by Giuseppe Camuncoli and finisher Andrew Currie, and vivid colors by Matt Milla. I really like the early scenes, where the X-Men are planning their next course of action, the detail given to the characters and their conversations is exceptional, which is also reflected in the later scenes in the Blackbird as the Brotherhood discuss Plan B and the original X-Men try to figure a way out of their predicament. In fact, by the time the X-Men and Brotherhood face each other at Cape Citadel,  nearly every character in this issue has had a share of the limelight. There’s also a spectacular double page spread near the end of the issue, where all the X-Men are fighting the Brotherhood, its absolutely brilliant, and that nail-biting final page will leave everyone diving for cover!

Battle of the Atom is now hurtling towards a thrilling finale. Wolverine and the X-Men #37 continues the high standard set by previous instalments, Jason Arron delivers some excellent characterization, and  Giuseppe and Camuncoli’s work really draws you into the action as the story races towards the final moments.

Doctor Who Classic Series The Daemons

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3rd Doctor, Azal, Bok, Captain Mike Yates, Doctor Who, Doctor Who Classic Sereis, Jo Grant, John Levene, Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning, Nicholas Courtney, Richard Franklin, Roger Delgado, Season Eight, Sgt Benton, The Brigadier, The Daemons, The Master, UNIT

The Daemons

Review by Paul Bowler

Strange mystical forces seem to be gathering around the village of Devil’s End where an ancient barrow is being investigated by Professor Horner (Robin Wentworth). The archaeological dig at the barrow is also being filmed be a television crew, who intend to show live coverage of the event on BBC Three as the Professor attempts to breach the inner chamber at the stroke of midnight. Alarmed by what forces the Professor might unleash, the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo Grant (Katy Manning) travel to Devil’s End to stop the dig but arrive too late, and the Professor and the Doctor are both enveloped in a freezing blast of energy from inside the barrow.

With the Professor dead and the Doctor frozen in ice, Jo seeks help from the villages. Having seen everything happen on TV, Captain Mike Yates (Richard Franklin) and Sgt Benton (John Levene) take the Brigadier’s helicopter to Devil’s End to go and help Jo and the Doctor. After they arrive the Doctor quickly recovers, leaving them free to explore the village, and together with the help of the white witch Mrs Hawthorn (Damaris Hayman), they discover that the local vicar – Mr Magister – is really the Master  (Roger Delgado) who has been using black magic rituals to summon the monstrous Azal to the cavern beneath the church. The Doctor explains that Azal is the last of a race of beings known as the Daemons, their super science is so powerful is appears to work like magic, and their spaceship is actually miniaturized inside the barrow itself.

By tapping into the Daemons powers the Master has gradually twisted the village’s minds, forcing them to serve him, while Azal generates a heat barrier around the Devil’s End to keep the Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney) and the rest of UNIT from entering the village. Each time the Master summons Azal the Daemon’s energies continue to build, until he states that Earth is a failed experiment by his people, and that he will either bequeath his power to a worth  successor or destroy the world.

As the Brigadier and his team race against time to build a machine to break through the heat barrier, the Doctor has to rescue Jo from the Master before he sacrifices her to Azal so he can claim the Daemon’s power.

The Daemons (1971) is the jewel in the crown of the Eighth Season of Doctor Who. Jon Pertwee and Katy Manning are now fully established in their roles, they make a fantastic team, and Jo continues to prove how resourceful she is by coping so well when the Doctor is frozen in ice. The 3^rd Doctor may come across as slightly arrogant and rude at the start of this story by Guy Leopold (which was actually a pseudonym for Barry Letts and Robert Sloman), but his haste to get to the dig is soon balanced out by his resolve to help the villages escape the Masters influence. The Daemons is one of those Doctor Who stories where the story and special effects all come together to make a truly remarkable adventure, and offers a clever juxtaposition between science and magic. This is also one of the finest UNIT stories, and is full of classic moments. Katy Manning also has a pivotal role to play, as it is Jo’s willingness to sacrifice herself to stop Azal killing the Doctor that ultimately turns the Daemon’s own power against him – with explosive results!

Christopher Barry directs this adventure with a real flair for the darker aspects of the story, particularly during the spooky opening sequence, and later staging some spectacular chase scenes between Bessie and the Helicopter, as well as the moment when UNIT finally breaks through the barrier to attack the church – which is being guarded by the living statue Bok.

The gargoyle Bok (Stanley Mason) is one of The Daemons best examples of how magic and science are used to play on everyone’s deep rooted fears and superstitions in this story. While Azal remains unseen for much of The Daemons, it is Bok who acts as the emissary of the Master’s power, flying from scene to scene, dealing death and destruction to anything that stands in its way. Bok is also responsible for one of the Brigadiers most memorable lines in Doctor Who, when he sees the creature for the first time and says: “Jenkins… chap with wings there. Five rounds rapid!” Even when Benton shoots the gargoyle with a bazooka, it explodes and suddenly reassembles itself.

Azal’s presence in the story is often portrayed by waves of heat and ice as the creature shrinks and grows from its miniaturized spaceship, these have devastating effects, and one is even responsible for thawing out the Doctor after he was frozen. The poor Policeman who was left guarding the barrow is squashed flat by Azal as he stomps across the countryside, leaving a trail of giant cloven footprints that Yates and Benton spot from the air. The heat barrier is also a very clever part of the story, and well realized by simple visual effects, although one wonders why a creature as powerful as Azal would need such a thing when he can destroy the world so easily – he even implies that his people were responsible for destroying Atlantis as one point. When he does finally appear Azal (Stephen Thorne) is perhaps the weakest aspect of the story, the CSO is not very good, and so it was probably a good move to hold off revealing the Daemon’s appearance until the final episode.

Roger Delgado is absolutely wonderful as the Master in this story. The renegade Time Lord makes a perfect enemy for the Doctor, although he may have been overused in Season Eight, appearing in every story, The Daemons is undoubtedly one of the best Master stories of all time. Few Dr Who Villains have ever warranted a cliff-hanger of their own, but when the Master foolishly summons Azal when he is alone in the cavern, even the Master is left covering in fear as the giant Daemon lumbers towards him. Of course the Master is eventually captured at the end of this story, in a charming scene that makes a perfect end to one of Doctor Who’s best seasons.

Trailer Celebrating The Last 50 Years of Doctor Who!

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50 Years of Doctor Who, Doctor Who, Doctor Who Trailer

Watch The Trailer Celebrating The Last 50 Years of Doctor Who!

Today the BBC has issued this press release, detailing a very special trailer. You can see the trailer on BBC One tonight at approximately 8.20pm – that’s right after Strictly Come Dancing and just before Atlantis. This amazing trailer will be available to watch on the official BBC site, immediately after its BBC One premiere.

The press release reads as follows:

A specially created trailer celebrating the last 50 years of Doctor Who will air tonight on BBC One, as an exclusive image is revealed today featuring the 11 Doctors.

Travelling through time fans will be taken on a journey from the very beginning using state of the art technology. The special trailer is set to show all of the Doctors as they first appeared on screen, including William Hartnell in high res colour for the very first time, as celebrations ramp up to the 23 November.

A huge moment for the BBC, the 50th celebrations will culminate with the special episode, ‘The Day of the Doctor’, starring Matt Smith, David Tennant and Jenna Coleman with Billie Piper and John Hurt. A whole range of shows have also been commissioned across TV and radio to mark the anniversary.

The minute long trailer will air after Strictly Come Dancing tonight on BBC One and will be also be available on

www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho

Please Note

This trailer does not include any actual footage of the 50^th anniversary episode.

Update / Here is the new trailer!

 

Uncanny XMen #13 Review

Tags

Battle of the Atom, Battle of the Atom Part #8, Brian Michael Bendis, Chris Bachalo, Cyclops, Marte Gracia, Marvel Comcis, Original X-Men, The Uncanny X-Men, Uncanny X-Men #13, Wolverine, X-Men from the future

Uncanny X-Men #13

Review by Paul Bowler

 

After a team of X-Men from the future arrived, demanding that the Original X-Men  return to the past, the young Jean and Scott went on the run. The present and future X-Men tracked them down, and eventually they agreed to return. Magik took young Iceman and Beast to the future to investigate and discovered the future X-Men were actually the evil Brotherhood from the future. Back at the Jean Grey school the Brotherhood attacked the X-Men, leaving Wolverine, who has just lost his healing factor, mortally wounded and bleeding out. Emerging from the wreckage of the school, Jubilee was surprised to discover that Sentinel X is the adult Shogo from the future. Now its falls to Cyclops and the Uncanny X-Men, together with the real X-Men of the future who have travelled back with Magik, Iceman, and Beast to help the X-Men fight the Brotherhood and save the original X-Men.

Uncanny X-Men #13 sees Brian Michael Bendis bringing the various teams of X-Men, past, present, and future together against the future Brotherhood, as part eight of Battle of the Atom turns the Jean Grey School of Higher Learning into a battleground. The Uncanny X-Men and future X-Men are forced to dive for cover when a piece of the north tower is lobbed at them, enabling the Brotherhood’s shape-shifter Raze (who mortally wounded Wolverine in their surprise attack) to capture young Iceman and Beast.

Xavier’s grandson orders the future Iceman to attack the X-Men again, Phoenix Quentin Quire steps in to deflect the debris thrown by the hulking Ice creature, leaving the X-Men free to reach the school. Magik and Colossus get inside first and have to fight their way past Molly and Deadpool. The Uncanny X-Men and future X-Men run into trouble outside the school, when Xavier commands Krakoa to swallow them whole, leaving the rest of the Brotherhood free to activate the Time Cube and send the original X-Men home.

Chris Bachalo’s art for Uncanny X-Men #13 really captures the heightening sense of urgency as this time warping conflict escalates, with the fate of the original X-Men hanging in the balance, Bachalo delivers some terrific action set-pieces. His work is nicely complemented with inks by Time Townsend, Al Vey, Mark Irwin, Jamie Mendoza and Victor Olazaba, as well as the superb colors provided by Marte Gracia. This issue is full of spectacular, bone crunching showdowns, with Colossus and Magik in particular pulling no punches as they race to help the original X-Men.

Magik teleports into the lab to stop them, but she is held back by the future Jean Grey who tries to get Illyana to kill herself with her own soul sword. Colossus deals with Xavier as the X-Men break free of Krakoa, and the Brotherhood’s attempt to send the original X-Men back to their own time encounters an unexpected technical glitch – something which inexplicably transgresses all the normal laws of space and time itself…

If your thought things have been complicated so far, you haven’t seen anything yet, as Brian Michael Bendis crams so much into part eight of Battle of the Atom, that its no wonder the Brotherhood’s plans hits a surprising snag. For those of us who have long wondered what effect the original X-Men’s presence in the present day might have on the time continuum, let along the paradox’s it could potentially cause, well Uncanny X-Men #13 goes some way to finally addressing those issues.

We are also teased a few interesting points about Illyana’s involvement in events, after all, we know that she has already travelled into the future before in Battle of the Atom #1, and has long had her suspicions about these future X-Men. Her suspicions proved correct, as on her next trip into the future with Iceman and Beast, she learned from the “real” future X-Men that these mutants were actually the futures evil Brotherhood.  In Uncanny X-Men #13 Molly hints about what was unleashed hen she sees Magik, and later mentions the Stark Tower / Baxter Building Wars as she battles Colossus. The adult Jean also has a few choice “spoilers” for Magik as she fends off Illyna’s attack in the lab. Whatever it all means, it seems possible that Illyna’s role in Battle of the Atom could now be more crucial than we first realised.

Uncanny X-Men #13 is an absolutely cracking instalment of Battle of the Atom. It may have taken a bit of a protracted route to get to this point, but we are now beginning to see the various plot threads coming together at last. Things are really building up to a titanic showdown, which together with this issues time twisting surprise, will leave you eager to find out how the X-Men and the Brotherhood will deal with this unexpected turn of events.

The Walking Dead #115 Review

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10th Anniversary, All Out War, Carl Grimes, Charlie Adlard, Ezekiel, Image Comics, Michonne, Negan, Rick Grimes, Robert Kirkman, The Saviors, The Walking Dead, The Walking Dead #115

The Walking Dead #115

Review By Paul Bowler

 

The Walking Dead #115 is the beginning of the 12 part All Out War story arc to celebrate the 10^th Anniversary of  Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard’s epic comic book series. This monster event will tear through the lives of everyone as All Out War breaks out in The Walking Dead #115, the first chapter of a storyline that will see Rick Grimes and his group of survivors fighting for their lives in a conflict involving all factions of the Walking Dead universe: The Saviors, The Hilltop, and The Kingdom.

With the help of Jesus and Ezekiel’s troops, Negan and the Saviors were driven out of Alexandria. Now the battle lines have been drawn, sides have been chosen, the Kingdom and the Hilltop communities are united with Rick’s fellow survivors. Together they prepare to go to war with the Saviors and bring Negan’s reign of terror to an end…

The Walking Dead #115 beings with moments of quiet reflection as Rick wakes early, the responsibility of the war he is about to start weighing heavily on his mind. Andrea reassures Rick that he has made the right choice, and that no matter what it takes to win this war, she knows the outcome will be worth it. Meanwhile, Ezekiel and Michonne have spent the night together, although neither are willing to commit to anything just yet. Whether anything will come of their relationship remains to be seen, however, Michonne does believe their time together may have the potential to “mean” something more eventually.

With everyone working flat out to prepare for the attack on the Saviors, Rick, Jesus, and Ezekiel get ready to move out, but before they leave Rick stands up and addresses everyone. Rick knows that everybody has put their lives on the line by supporting him in his fight against Negan, he thanks them all before they set out, saying how he believes the dark path they are about to take will lead them to a better place in the end.

Andrea, who is still recovering after fighting one of Negan’s men in the Bell Tower, is staying in Alexandria with Carl. Before he goes, Rick entrusts Carl with more responsibility, seeing as he did so well at organising the people on the wall after Rick’s failed attempt to kill the Saviors Leader backfired and left them easy targets for Negan’s snipers. Rick and the others board the trucks and drive to the Saviors base, where Rick issues his demands as Negan looks on. Rick offers Negan a chance to surrender peacefully or face the consequence, but Negan has a very different plan, and a surprise of his own waiting for them.

All Out War gets under way as Rick and his new allies embark on their mission to deal with Negan once and for all. The Walking Dead #115 opens with a brooding sense of anticipation, as Robert Kirkman shows us how Rick manages to face up to his own doubts and rally his forces in the build up to the confrontation with Negan. Kirkman includes some great scenes between Rick and Andrea, and there is a nice moment between Rick and Carl before he leaves for the battle.

We also discover that Ezekiel stayed over at Michonne’s, not that surprising really, as the chemistry between them has bee simmering ever since they first met. Its going to be interesting to see how their relationship develops over the course of All Out War, and I expect if they are going to live together, then Ezekiel’s pet tiger, Shiva, is going to have to be housetrained!

Negan is as vile as ever, delivering a foul mouthed diatribe at Rick from his vantage point above the Zombie infested barricade of the Saviors base, yes we do get to see some Zombies this issue as well! Of course no one seriously expects that Negan will give in to Rick’s demands, even though he is faced with the combined might of the hilltop communities, Negan has got a counter proposal that manages to keep him one step ahead of his enemies.

Charlie Adlard’s art on The Walking Dead is as excellent as ever, there are some great full page scenes crowded with characters, and the attention to detail is quite remarkable given how much the cast has grown recently. As The Walking Dead is now going bi-weekly during Al Out War, Adlard is assisted by Stefano Gaudiano’s inks, which  brings an added depth to the grey tones.

Along with the standard cover, The Walking Dead #115 has been released with a series of 10 individual connecting covers, each marked B-K, while cover O was a special NY Comic-Con- exclusive  that was only available at the show. Each cover draws on the major events over the last ten years of The Walking Dead comic series, and collectively they certainly get these 10^th anniversary celebrations of to an impressive start.

The Walking Dead #115 if a confident opening to All Out War. The Battle is about to begin, all the major players are in position, and if the closing moments of this issue are anything to go by, the carnage is about to be epic.

X-Men #6 Review

Tags

Battle of the Atom, Battle of the Atom Part #7, Brian Wood, David Lopez, Jubilee, Marvel Comics, Original X-Men, Psylocke, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, X-Men, X-Men #6, X-Men from the future

X-Men #6

Review by Paul Bowler

 

After the young Cyclops was injured, temporarily erasing his adult self from existence, the modern-day X-Men decided to send the original X-Men back to their own time. The young Jean Grey is reluctant to go back, but a team of X-Men suddenly arrive from the future, and say the world is doomed if they don’t return.  Jean and Scott turn to the adult Cyclops and the Uncanny X-Men for help, while the X-Men set out to bring them back. Magik, suspicious of the future X-Men, together with the young Iceman and Beast, travels to the future where they discover a pleasant future and meet a new team of X-Men. They reveal how the “future” X-Men that Magik and her fellow X-Men are helping, are not really X-Men anymore. The X-Men from this time period have not associated with them since the death of Alison Blaire, who was killed just after she became the first mutant president. Back in the present, the “future X-Men” have captured three of original five X-Men, and set about making preparations to send them back to their own time period.

Part Seven of Battle of the Atom kicks off in X-Men #6 as the Blackbird and the Dove return to the Jean Grey School, where the X-Men are greeted by Jubilee and Roxanne. Xorn accompanies young Jean, Scott, and Warren to the Time Cube, but Wolverine suspicions soon prove correct when Xavier becomes enraged after learning that Magik, Beast, and Iceman have gone. With their cover blown, the bogus X-Men of the future attack. A surprise transformation catches Wolverine off guard and he is mortally wounded, while in Beast’s lab Xorn locks down the Time Cube and quickly secures the three original X-Men.

This leaves Rachel, Jubilee, Rogue, and Betsy to take on the rest of the future X-Men, while trying to keep baby Shogo safe at the same time. With the school in lockdown, Krakoa subdued, Psylocke keeps Deadpool busy while Jubilee and Roxanne try to escape and get Shogo to safety. The Uncanny X-Men arrive near the school, along with the “real” future X-Men who have returned along with Magik, Iceman, and Beast to help them. The Uncanny X-Men and genuine future X-men hold back to assess the situation from afar, but Sentinel X is not prepared to wait, and takes off to investigate the damage to the school. Jubilee, who is carrying Shogo, Roxanne, and then Psylocke emerge from the rubble as Sentinel X lands. The armoured figure approaches, removing its masks when Jubilee asks it to identify itself, revealing the identity of the armours occupant…

So far, Battle of the Atom has been a hugely entertaining crossover event. The only real downside being that some issues have spent a lot of time recapping events, which sometimes made them feel like they were going over the same ground. Now that we are well past the halfway point, the mystery surrounding the time travelling X-Men from the future has taken a significant twist, and it looks like the present day X-Men are going to have one hell of a fight on their hands.

Brian Wood’s X-Men #6 places Jubilee right at the heart of the action. There are some really fun moments with Shogo and some great action scenes when the X-Men are fighting the future X-Men, which leads to Jubilee taking a much more prominent role in Battle of the Atom than expected. When the “fake” X-Men from the future reveal their true colors,  even Wolverine is caught off guard, and the psychic powers of the future Xavier and Xorn quickly overpower the rest, leaving only Wood’s team to oppose the future X-Men. Rachel battles against  Xavier psychically, while Rogue gets a surprise when she tries to absorb the Ice-Hulk’s powers, which offers us some insight about this lumbering ice creature. Psylocke is also right in the thick of the action, while protecting baby Shogo at the same time, and later ends up fighting Deadpool. I thought baby Shogo’s “panic button” was a really fun device as well.

There is a lot going on in this issue, even though the majority of the other X-Men are either unconscious or trapped in Hank’s lab. The art by David Lopez is excellent, every character is well defined, and his work is complemented by Cam Smith and Terry Pallot’s inks, with colors by Laura Martin and Matt Milla.

X-Men #6 really captures the essence of Brian Woods  X-Men, its one of the best instalment so far in Battle of the Atom, and the final scene is made all the more exciting by the reveal of who is inside  Sentinel X.