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Guardians of the Galaxy #6

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Guardians of the Galaxy #6As Star-Lord seeks some answers from Thanos about what the hell is happening with Earth, Iron Man (dressed in Quill’s old, and far superior, armor) and the rest of the Guardians try to help Gammora who has bitten off more than she can chew with the mysterious Angela.

Two issues in, both of which feature Angela on the cover, we’re still no closer to discovering who exactly this character is or how powerful this version of Neil Gaiman‘s Spawn character might be within the confines of the Marvel Universe. Obviously she can stand up to Gamora, but it an issue where Star-Lord survives and off-panel one-on-one fight with Thanos that’s not all that impressive.

The inclusion of The Watcher, who seems legitimately dismayed at the arrival of Angela, helps lend some weight to a character who really has done much of anything so far. In much the same way, Quill’s opening scene with Thanos sets the stage for just how much danger the Earth now finds itself. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Uncanny X-Men #12

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Uncanny X-Men #12Seeking refuge from current and future X-Men who would forcibly return them to their own time, the younger versions of Scott Summers and Jean Grey seek out Cyclops and his team in hopes of refuge. Cyclops answer is not surprising, although Emma is less than pleased.

Uncanny X-Men #12 is a solid issue, and on the plus side I’m able to follow the events of the Battle of the Atom crossover (which sadly doesn’t involve Ray Palmer and Ryan Choi) without having read the other issues. As much as I liked the issue, however, it didn’t sell me on buying an extra three issues before the storyline returns to this comic.

The dilemma Cyclops is presented with here, try to help the past version of himself and the love of his life (and continue to screw with the timeline) or abandon them is a tough one that the issue handles well. When the future version of the group shows up to forcibly take back the original X-Men, Emma Frost is surprised to find an older Jean Grey among them which should lead to a rather un-ladylike battle between the pair of Cyclops’ exes. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Nova #7

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Nova #7It’s hard out there for a pimp, er.. new teenage super-hero. After saving the galaxy, Nova tries his hands at a little planet side heroics only to discover that 15 year-old with nearly unlimited cosmic powers isn’t always all that helpful for the day-to-day troubles inside the Marvel Universe.

Sam’s attempt to help in New York leads him to a confrontation with Doc Ock Spidey who puts the young hero in his place before sending him on his way. Nova is no more helpful in Los Angeles (where his big save disrupts an angered Joss Whedon’s latest movie set), or in a host of other places before the young hero finally returns home and helps repair the damage caused in New Mexico from his recent fight with Titus.

Although our hero isn’t able to get into much action, this issue is quite entertaining as Nova continues to struggle to grow into his role as a super-hero and try (and often fail) to learn the best way to use his powers to make a difference. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Uncanny X-Men #10

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Uncanny X-Men #10As the X-Men continue to train, and discover untapped potential among some of their younger recruits, Magneto sneaks off for a not-so-covert meeting with Maria Hill who is less than pleased at the X-Men, attacking S.H.I.E.L.D., stealing their prisoner, and disrupting the Helicarrier.

Forced into accepting Hill’s new deal, which involves working with Dazzler (who only we know is really Mystique), Magneto continues to work both sides to his own advantage (a subplot I’m already getting tired of).

Action picks up with the X-Men make an impromptu appearance at a pro-mutant rally to promote a message of peace only to get attacked by the first of a new version of Sentinel bred for their destruction. The attack by the Sentinel, on the peaceful demonstration certainly makes me wonder just who is behind the new mutant killers and what their ultimate agenda really is. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Uncanny X-Men #9

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Uncanny X-Men #9As a covert operative the Dazzler kinda sucks. Hand-picked by Maria Hill to learn more about Cyclops and his team, Dazzler knocks Fabio‘s family unconscious (but not before they recognize her), kidnaps the young man, leads the X-Men straight to S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s secret detention facility, and then uses her close personal relationship with her fellow mutants to insult Scott Summers and make a new enemy. Oh, and then she gets poisoned and replaced by Mystique. That’s not a great first day.

Aside from the intrinsic humor of S.H.I.E.L.D. recruiting a former disco star, Dazzler is largely wasted here. Since her relationships with her fellow mutants are not really capitalized on any number of characters could have performed her role. I’m also a bit disappointed that we get the suggestion of Hijack did to the Helicarrier (the only real action of the entire comic) but it takes place all off-panel.

Those complaints aside, Brian Michael Bendis provides another solid issue. I’m happy to seen Gold Balls sticking around and I’ll be curious to see just what role Mystique has to play in the larger picture (and whose side she’s really on). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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