Aliens Defiance #1 Review

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Alien, Aliens, Aliens Defiance, Aliens Defiance #1, Aliens Defiance #1 review, Brian Wood, Colonial Marines, Dan Jackson, Dark Horse Comics, Tristan Jones, Weyland-Yutani, Xenomorph, Zula Hendricks

Aliens Defiance #1

Review by Paul Bowler

A new Xenomorph threat rises in Aliens Defiance #1, when Colonial Marine Zula Hendricks, accompanied by a squad of Weyland-Yutani synthetic security drones, embark on a mission to salvage a derelict space hauler – the Europa. With the discovery of a lethal Alien infestation on board, Private First Class Zula Hendricks becomes caught up in a voyage across space to destroy the Xenomorphs and save humanity.

Brian Woods brings his distinct storytelling style to the Aliens franchise, in Aliens Defiance #1, with art by Tristan Jones and colors by Dan Jackson, this brand new Dark Horse comic book series piles on the mystery and acid blood splattering action to bring a very unique kind of bug-hunt to the Aliens mythology.

Our introduction to Zula Hendricks is skilfully handled, her recover from a serious spinal injury is told via a series of flashbacks to events on Tranquility Base on the Moon, while her mission in the present day to recover flight data from the Europa for Weyland-Yutani builds the tension perfectly as Private Hendricks and the corporate security drones begin to explore the derelict vessel. Brian Woods engineers the tension and suspense perfectly, the characterization of Hendricks and her synthetic companion is gradually established and cleverly drives the narrative, but it is when the Xenomorphs start to emerge from the darkness and the synthetic screams begin ringing out across the ship that the thrills and chills really kick into overdrive.

The artwork by Tristan Jones melds the tone of the original Alien film with the bombastic action of its sequel Aliens, and the results are quite startling. There are few moment where the characters proportions and expressions do seem a little bit off, but on the whole this is a very impressive looking issue. There are some nice throwbacks to the past as well, particularly those early scenes on the bridge of the Europa, there’s a chance meeting on Tranquility Base, and the closing moments in the iconic computer room and the messages on the screen are sure to bring some pangs of nostalgia. Tristan Jones makes the Aliens look incredible and as scary as hell, and the superb colors by Dan Jackson in these scenes also gloriously enhance the action.

Initially, this first issue of Aliens Defiance does feel a little predictable. Familiar Alien tropes are rolled out to tick all the right boxes in all the right places for us, but it’s when the story suddenly goes off on a completely different tangent at the midway point that it will really surprise you. From there it will have you hooked every step of the way as its intriguing premise unfolds. Even though artificial life forms going bad in the Aliens franchise is nothing new, we’ve never seen anything done quite like this before, and that’s what makes Aliens Defiance feel all the more exciting and different.

Aliens Defiance #1 provides a good start to this new Dark Horse series, with its exciting storyline by Brian Woods and impressive artwork by Tristan Jones, there’s plenty of potential here for a really fresh and different take on the Aliens franchise.

Publisher: Dark Horse / Writer: Brian Wood

Art: Tristan Jones / Colors: Dan Jackson

Lettering: Nate Piekos of Blambot / Cover: Massimo Carnevale

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X-Men Battle of the Atom #2 Review

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Battle of the Atom, Battle of the Atom #2, Brian Michael Bendis, Brian Wood, Cyclops, Esad Ribic, Future X-Men, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Jason Aaron, Kitty Pryde, Marvel Comics, Original X-Men, Stuart Immonen, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, X-Men

Battle of the Atom #2

Review by Paul Bowler

The Brotherhood from the future arrived in the present-day and convinced everyone they were the X-Men of the future. They conspired to get the modern-day X-Men to force the original X-Men to return to the past. Although the young X-Men disagreed, Wolverine and most of the X-Men at the Jean Grey School agreed. However, the scheme was foiled when the real future X-Men appeared, and the Brotherhood’s attempt to use the Time Cube to send the original X-Men home hit a snag, when they found it was impossible to send them back. Now the X-Men of the past, present, and future stand united against the Brotherhood, but when a fleet of S.H.I.E.L.D Helicarriers suddenly arrive Xorn and Xavier take control of their weapon systems and launches their missiles at the X-Men…

Faced with an onslaught of missiles launched by the S.H.I.E.L.D helleicarriers, all of the X-Men teams’ work together to fend off the attack, using every ounce of their combined powers to fight back as the Brotherhood version of the Beast urges them to all to join forces with them. But when he is suddenly cut down by blaster fire from some new arrivals – a group of Sentinels that have secretly been constructed by S.H.I.E.L.D – all hell breaks loose and the present day X-Men and future X-Men find themselves fighting a battle on two fronts. The battle is furious, casualties are high, and as the Brotherhood face defeat Jean “Xorn” Grey confronts Cyclops and Wolverine, blaming the Schism they caused that divided the X-Men for subverting the natural order of time, before fighting the original X-Men until her powers finally overload and she explodes!

By the time Mira Hill arrives at the battlefield the Brotherhood has escaped and the X-Men have teleported back to the Jean Grey School. As they mourn their dead the X-Men must also form a response to S.H.I.E.L.D deploying Sentinels against them. Despite everything that has happened, Wolverine and Cyclops are still unable to settle their differences, and their teams remain divided as the future X-Men prepare to return to their own time – though not everyone is going back to the future as Kymera opts to stay and hunt down the Brotherhood.

Heartfelt goodbyes are said before the future X-Men uses the Time Cube to leave, with the future Iceman imparting some words of wisdom to his present day self as they depart. Afterwards the X-Men gather outside the School where Kitty Pryde announces that she is leaving. Kitty explains she can no longer trust them after the way they acted during Battle of the Atom, saying they let her and the original X-Men down when they needed them most. The original X-Men have also decided to leave with Kitty, not wishing to stay where they are not really wanted. Wolverine and  the X-Men are shocked when Cyclops and Magik teleport in to collect Professor Kitty and her students as they set off to join the Uncanny X-Men at the new Xavier School…

Battle of the Atom #2 brings this 50^th anniversary crossover event for the X-Men to a close, with Jason Aaron tasked with wrapping everything up, with Brian Michael Bendis writing one of the issues four epilogues. After last issues terrific cliff-hanger Battle of the Atom #2 picks up the pace with a huge battle as the various teams of X-Men square off against the Brotherhood. The arrival of S.H.I.E.L.D’s secret supply of Sentinels is not an altogether unexpected twist; however, this is sure to have a significant impact on human-mutant relations in the future.

The climatic battle includes some brilliant action sequences, there are casualties, and I especially liked the part where the original X-Men took on Xorn. There was also a great showdown between Xorn and Phoenix Quentin Quire, where Jean taunts him about how the Phoenix force still whispers her name. While the battle does reach an explosive end, it all seems a little abrupt; giving way to a series of epilogues that shifts the emphasis towards setting up a plethora of future storylines – especially with the Brotherhood still at large.

This somewhat uneven approach to Battle of the Atom #2 is also reflected in the artwork as well, as the main storyline has art by Esad Ribic and Giuseppe Camuncoli, with Andrew Currie and Tom Palmer on finishes. The four epilogues bring more by Camuncoli and Currie, along with Kris Anka, Chris Bachalo, and Stuart Immonen. Sadly the end result is not all that good; it all feels a little cobbled together, and not a patch on previous instalments.

While Kitty’s decision to leave, followed by the original X-Men, in the final Epilogue by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen was a big surprise, I was a little uncomfortable about how smug Cyclops seemed when he arrived with Magik to collect them – it seemed a little out of character. Epilogue two by Brian Wood, on the other hand, contains one of my favourite scenes of this entire crossover, as the adult Shogo prepares to say goodbye to Jubilee. It’s a brilliant moment for the characters, and I thought it was the real highlight of the issue.

On the whole I have thoroughly enjoyed Battle of the Atom. I like how the story developed through each of the X-Titles involved in the crossover, there were some issues with constant recaps, but for the most part the story held together quiet well. Its just a shame that more time and care wasn’t put into making Battle of the Atom #2 more of an epic finale, rather than the last minute dash to the finish line that it turned out to be.

X-Men #6 Review

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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.

X-Men #5 Review

Tags

Battle of the Atom, Brian Wood, Cyclops, David Lopez, Jean Grey, Kitty Pryde, Marvel Comics, Rachel, Scott Summers, X-Men, X-Men #5

X-Men #5

Review by Paul Bowler

The Beast may have brought the original X-Men back with him to the present day to help reunite Mutantkind, but after the young Cyclops was nearly killed in a battle with the Sentinels, the modern day version of the X-Men decided to send the young mutants back to their own time. Now that she is aware of her tragic fate, the young Jean Grey is reluctant to go back. But when a team of X-Men from the future suddenly appear at the Jean Grey School, brining a dire warning of how the future will be destroyed if the original X-Men stay, young Jean causes a fight to distract everyone and goes on the run with Scott. As the X-Men prepare to give chase, the female Xorn removes her mask and is revealed as the adult Jean Grey from the future…

X-Men #5 is the first issue of Battle of the Atom that is not written by Brian Michael Bendis, it gives us some idea of how this crossover event is going to unfold over the various X-Titles, and Brian Wood does an excellent job of maintaining the pace and tone of the story. X-Men #5 picks up after the young Jean and Scott escaped in the Blackbird in All New X-Men #16, as both present and future generations of X-Men decide what to do next. We also learn that the adult Jean Grey can only manage without the Xorn helmet for a few minuets as her powers have grown so much.

Brian Wood’s manages to include some fun scenes, including one where the past, present, and future versions of the Beast remind themselves about the test jet they built: as they collectively reminisce about designing it, after building it in the present, and then remembering it fondly – before their super sleek aircraft (The Dove) rises up through the floor into the hanger bay.

After Professor Xavier’s grandson takes a Cerebro Spike, a special pill to help them track Jean’s psychic trail, Storm decides that Kitty, Rachel, and Jubilee will stay behind at the school with the young Bobby and Hank, while she leaves with the others in the Dove to search for Jean and Scott. This leads to a great moment between Kitty and Rachel, as they talk about the Jean Grey from the future and their concerns about making the original X-Men to return to their own time against their wishes. Kitty in particular has grown very close to them and Rachel believes that the young X-Men should be allowed to decide for themselves if they go back.

Having found the abandoned Blackbird the X-Men continue to scan for the mutant runaways. They soon locate them, tearing along the Pacific Coast Highway on a motorbike after Jean lowers her psychic shields and reaches out telepathically to someone for help. The X-Men catch up with them on the highway, Scott tries to evade them, but Deadpool takes out the bikes tyres. Fortunately Kitty and Rachel arrive in a small craft and get the X-Men teams to back off, with Kitty confronting Storm and Rachel berating the future Jean Grey. While the X-Men argue Jean and Scott slip away in Kitty and Rachel’s craft and travel to Utopia for a meeting with another team of mutants…

The scenes where Jean and Scott are on the run are the real highlight of X-Men #5, especially when they steal some clothes from a washing line and get changed. It’s a wonderfully goofy and awkward moment for them, as it goes hilariously wrong. However, their conversation as they escape along the highway on the motorbike brings their relationship sharply into focus, when Scott admits he would do anything for her, but unfortunately Jean has no time to respond before the X-Men arrive in force to bring them in.

Overall this is a good issue, X-Men #5 provides Brian Wood’s with the some good character moments for his regular cast, particularly between Kitty and Rachel at the school, and a funny scene were  Jubilee leaves Bobby and Hank to look after baby Shogo. This issues tie-in does interrupt Wood’s main X-Men storyline in favour of the Battle of the Atom crossover, with the focus firmly placed on Jean and Scott’s developing relationship. The art by David Lopez, together with Cam Smith’s inks and Lara Martin’s colors, is also good, and I really like the cover by Arthur Adams.

While it may not be indicative of Wood’s series as whole, X-Men #5 is still a good issue, and effectively slots into this big X-Men crossover event. Battle of the Atom is shaping up to be a really action packed story, with some great interaction between the characters, with tensions fraying between the teams as Scott and Jean make their way to Utopia.