X-Men

Amazing X-Men #5

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Amazing X-Men #5Amazing X-Men‘s first arc comes to a close with a battle between Nightcrawler and his father Azazel. Needing to save both his friends and heavenly realms from his father’s madness, Nightcrawler makes good on his deal with the BAMFs and returns with the X-Men and Azazel to Earth where he traps his father using Azazel’s own blood magic. The cost, however, is higher than Kurt is willing to admit to any of his friends.

Writer Jason Aaron and artist Ed McGuinness make good on their promise to return Kurt back to the land of the living but only at the cost of his own soul. We’ll have to wait and see how this will effect the X-Man physical, emotionally, and spiritually going forward.

Kurt’s return should also force Logan to admit his own failures including the split in the X-Men. How Nightcrawler is going to fit into that schism should be interesting to watch. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Guardians of the Galaxy #13

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Guardians of the Galaxy #13“The Trial of Jean Grey” concludes with Jean Grey being pushed to her limits by Gladiator and the Shi’ar and finally having enough. Not surprisingly when all is said and done both teams leave Shi’ar space with a successful rescue of Jean Grey who has a surprise of her own by tapping into an internal reserve and showing off an increased power-set that proves enough to finally force Gladiator to relent.

As well as showing off a more empowered Ms. Grey, the issue also gives us some flirting between Kitty Pryde and Peter Quill and the loss of one of the time-displaced X-Men and the younger Cyclops decides to journey with his father and the Starjammers rather than return to Earth and face a distressing future that he’s decided he wants no part of.

Cyclops decision opens up more story possibilities for the X-Man as well as more timey-wimey problems for the X-Universe. For the Guardians, however, the mission is a success leading into next month’s double-sized anniversary issue introducing new members and new troubles for the team. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Uncanny X-Men #19.NOW

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Uncanny X-Men #19.NOWWhile Cyclops and his team head out into the field to find a new mutant, Hijack gets a visit from S.H.I.E.L.D. who is ready to charge the mutant as a terrorist unless he provides information about Cyclops and the location of his team.

It turns out Hijack isn’t the only one in trouble as Cyclops and his team walk into a well-designed trap involving killer Sentinels and a power-dampening field that nearly gets them all killed. The group is only saved thanks to Magik‘s showcasing what Doctor Strange has been teaching her in the past.

Although highlighted by some fun small comedic moments (such as Goldballs discovering his powers work again) Uncanny X-Men #19.NOW is certainly one of the darker issues of the series so far (which is saying something for a comic that gave us a multi-issue arc in a Hell dimension). In that same vein, the latest issue also touches on events in Madripoor answering a couple of lingering questions concerning the fate of the real Dazzler and the source of Mystique‘s mutant growth hormone. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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All-New X-Men #24

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All-New X-Men #24The “Trial of Jean Grey” crossover continues as the Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, and Starjammers prepare for their suicidal rescue attempt and Jean Grey‘s trial is momentarily halted by the arrival of Peter Quill‘s father Jason who shows up not only to throw a wrench in the proceedings but to clue Jean Grey into the fact that Gladiator and the Shi’ar are responsible for systematically killing her entire family hoping to provoke a response that turns the proceedings his way.

While continuing to offer some fun interplay among the various groups’ members, All New X-Men #24 also features a shocked Jean Grey dealing with the horrors her future self will commit when controlled by the Phoenix.

Outmanned and outgunned the group will have to find a satisfactory end to the proceedings as the crossover wraps up in the next issue of Guardians of the Galaxy which, if the cover is to believed may include an appearance of the creature truly responsible for Jean Grey’s crimes. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Magneto #1

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Magneto #1Over the years Magneto has been many things: super-villain, teacher, victim, wanderer, savior, and enemy to all human-kind. With Magneto #1 writer and artist find a new path for old warrior who has left Cyclops‘ camp and begun a journey of his own seeking out those who have harmed mutants and exacting revenge.

Far more low-key than usual, this version of the character does his best to stay off the radar of various government agencies like S.H.I.E.L.D. while performing his own kind of brutal justice. Although his power-set is still limited the character seems far more in control of his powers than we saw in Uncanny X-Men as he has no trouble in taking out an entire police station and an Omega Prime Sentinel left in the world to target those just like him.

I’ll admit I’d have preferred the character to stay with Cyclops rather than becoming the vagabond vigilante we see here. However, it’s certainly an intriguing set-up and offers a variety of stories to be told in the coming months. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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