The Book Club

Comic Pull List: New Series Fairest #1, Demon Knights #7, & more

Demon Knights #7

By: Paul Cornell, Diogenes Neves, & Robson Rocha

Even besides the Questing Queen's miscoloring on the cover, I'm just plain old ambivalent about this issue. On one hand, the ending is quite nice, with a nice smack of morality and doubt that feels right in this title, and the battle itself was engaging with some nice surprises along the way (hello again, Vandal Savage).

But after seven issues, this just feels like another waste of space. The battle is epic, but there aren't enough moments here for our characters to really shine. The Amazon gets a nice speech, but it feels out of place. Horsewoman saves the day, but it's too deus ex machina to have an emotional surge of victory. All in all, a good attempt but not much more. I need more characterization for this title to stay on my Pull List.

Fairest #1 (New Title, Fables Spin-off)

By: Bill Willingham & Phil Jimenez

Let me just say that I buy Fables because I love the writing. I think Willingham is smart and sassy, and his characters are fantasticly human. But it was Jimenez's art that stole the entire show here. Even on cheaper paper than what most titles use these days, Jimenez's work is absolutely gorgeous, with George Perez-level detail and some of the most exquisite faces I've ever seen. Add to that absolutely gorgeous coloring by Andrew Dalhouse (the page with the Snow Queen and Sleeping Beauty asleep is my absolute favorite page of the year so far) and a terrific cover by Adam Hughes, and you have the most beautiful book on the stands.

My only complaint is that this title was supposed to be the women of Fables, and the first issue is actually all Ali Baba. It's a good story, but I want to see the women here be in charge, not the men.

New Mutants (Vol. III) #38

By: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, & Leandro Fernandez

Like Demon Knights, the best part of this issue was the ending, with Warlock delivering the news that he's got to trap his own teammates on an island with an insane bird-man, where one of them died in the past. (Yes, I know it's sentences like that that make non-comic readers' brain explode.)

The art was alright, despite some heavy inking and dark coloring that murked things up, but it was really the strange plotting that got me. The whole impetus of the story was odd (it was all a dream), and while Cypher's power evolution - the ability to decode any language, including dreams and movement now - is nice, it just doesn't fit together, especially when the team nearly kills an old ally. I just walked away feeling like this was a huge let-down after last issue's stunning achievement.

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. II) #7

By: Kieron Gillen & Greg Land

Sometimes you get the feeling that the pacing is all wrong for a story, and here's a perfect example of why. While half of the team barely appears in this issue, Storm, Cyclops, and an annoyingly arrogant ally stand around and talk a lot. And I mean, a freakin' bunch. When you combine that with the photo-traced, stiff artwork of Greg Land, you end up with one very bland issue.

There's one good moment, with Psylocke, where she asks, "Where do you stand on ambushes? Or swords?" as she stabs the villain in the back, and he responds with (after blasting her away), "Quaint but somewhat obsolete." It's funny but also sad that this is the issue's highlight. It would have been better to just jump to the next issue. You won't miss anything important, I promise.

X-Men: Legacy #262

By: Christos Gage & David Baldeon

Once again, we have a fight issue where nothing much happens, except a nice cliffhanger. The X-Men are still fighting Exodus, who is going to kill Cyclops to reunite the mutant race. Wolverine and Rogue have a fight. Icemen reveals new power levels. It's all ho-hum, didn't we already see this last issue?

I mean, even the cliffhanger is a two-page spread that isn't that beautiful. It could have easily been a one-pager. The only cute things here is Rachel Grey's psychic battle with Exodus, with scenes of them in various guises alluding to their respective and quite strange pasts. (We see Rachel's mutant slave with spikes outfit, and Exodus as a Medieval Times Crusader). All in all, not my favorite.

Comic Pull List Reviews: Avengers Academy #6, Birds of Prey #6, Wolverine & the X-Men #6, and more

Avengers Academy #26

By: Christos Gage & Tom Grummett

Wow. Talk about a talky comic book. Normally I don't mind all the dialogue, especially if it's smart or funny, but this is just too much.

The issue revolves around former Academy members Veil and Jocasta returning to try to convince the Avengers to shut down the Academy, because the students are basically just targets. The Initiative characters makes a smart and welcome cameo  here, but that's about the single highlight of the issue. While the issues discussed were smart, the dialogue didn't go far enough and the zings between characters (c'mon - who didn't want to see Jocasta verbally bitchslap Pym?) weren't juicy enough, so this issue just fell flat. The art was even lackluster from the usually stellar Grummett, who appeared to be suffering under the way-too-many-damn-characters problem. All in all, not my favorite.

Birds of Prey #6

By: Duane Swierczynski & Javier Pina

Oh, Birds of Prey, you were my first DC comic book. And I want to continue to collect you. But you make it so dang hard.

The major problem with this series is that while the cast is great, and the first few issues were solid, this storyline just won't freaking end. And the villains are faceless, which they are supposed to be but the metaphor is just dull and flat here. Cliffhangers go unused from issue to issue, and Batgirl is hanging around for absolutely no reason. In other words, the whole thing is a mess.

I keep giving you one more shot. But you just ain't worth it.

Wolverine and the X-Men #6

By: Jason Aaron & Nick Bradshaw

Bradshaw's art is so much fun in this series (even if all the inkers this issue make some pages more clean than others) that I just can't help but enjoy this series. I really wanted to hate on it - the teaching staff is great but I still want my New X-Men kids back. And I hate Quetin Quire.

So to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed (just short of loved, really) all six issues of this series so far says a lot. There are a lot of characters running around, there's nearly as much story in the art as in the dialogue, and Shadowcat gets to pwn a Brood, and basically, you've got yourself one entertaining X-Men story. Definitely this Comic Pull List's best issue.

X-Factor #232

By: Peter David & Emanuela Lupacchino

We've got another issue of dimension-hopping Madrox and no X-Factor team in sight, and I've got to say: "Yawn." I love X-Factor for its craziness, but I love it even more for its stellar dialogue and amazing cast. That stupid cliffhanger with the reappearance of Havok and Polaris from two issues ago is just screaming for resolution!

I don't care about the dimension-hopping Madrox. I want to see Shatterstar hit on Havok while Rictor complains and Wolfsbane freaks out, Siryn tells them off for not being good enough to lead X-Factor, and M just being bitchy to everyone while Longshot goes off to do what Longshot does best: make oddly relevant jokes at inappropriate times. C'mon!

X-Men (Vol. II) #25

By: Victor Gischler & Jorge Molina

Dear Mr. Gischler: These vampires, called the Forgotten, have no personalities. Zilch, none, nada. They are very boring. Please never write them again and let's pretend they never existed. It would be better to use the great assortment of X-Men that you have, instead.

And, for the record, while the ending of this issue seems like fun, the whole action in this issue was really rather dumb. The X-Men fought some good vampires, just because they were vampires. You, Mr. Gischler, didn't even include commentary about how this is like people just believing all mutants are evil. Which is the whole point of the X-Men. Which is why this issue was a fail.

But your cast! It's so good! (Not the Forgotten, though. Forget them.)

Comic Pull List Reviews: Avengers Academy 25, Demon Knights 6, & even more X-Men!

Avengers Academy #25

By: Christos Gage & Tom Grummett

What I love about Gage's writing is that he gets an awesome theme and idea going and he just runs with it. Every single issue in this series has been about one thing and one thing only: are these kids, tortured by the Green Goblin, going to end up Avengers or supervillains? It's a great premise, and even in a weaker issue, like this one, it keeps the overall feeling up.

The abrupt conclusion (a bit of a deus ex machina, emphasis on the machine part) to both major ongoing storylines of who killed Jocasta and Hybrid's taking over the campus was a bit of a let down. But Grummett's art was its useful slick and bright self, and his facial expressions were spot on in the more emotional moments. A good, not great, issue.

Demon Knights #6

By: Paul Cornell, Diogenes Neves, & Robson Rocha

Demon Knights started off as one of my favorite DCNu books, but it's starting to wear on me (like most of the DCNu, to be honest). I love Cornell as a writer, but these issues are seriously dragging. I literally thought for a second that I had accidentally bought an issue I already owned when I was reading through this one. And that, my friends, is never a good sign.

The art is fine, even with some fill-in pages, but this book needs to move more. We get a few character revelations, there's some OK character moments, but we're doing the exact same thing we were doing back at issue 1. And that was six months ago now. I understand deconstructed storytelling, but my god, this is just insane. Get it over with it, already!

New Mutants (Vol. III) #37

By: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, & David Lopez

What an insanely great done-in-one issue.

Here we got Magma, who promised Mephisto (a stand-in for Satan in the Marvel Universe) a date if he got her and her team home, making good on her deal with the devil. What results is one of the most human X-Men issues we've gotten in a long time, with the right balance of action, funny dialogue, and commentary on the human condition.

Magma, never a star player, shines here, while the hipster and somewhat fragile Mephisto steals the show. Each of the other New Mutants puts in a good moment or two, just adding to this issue's near perfection. Even if you aren't an X-Men fan, or even a comic book fan, this is one everybody should pick up.

And, oh, I hated Lopez's art when I first saw it. Now, it's absolutely perfect for this book's tone. Well done, all around.

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. II) #6

By: Kieron Gillen & Greg Land

I don't know what it says about Gillen's new take on the X-Men that I really don't like the villains he's chosen or his overall plot, but I love his characterization and dialogue so much that I think this is one of the best issues on the stands. Couple that with lackluster art by Greg Land, and we've got a conundrum.

There's surprising depth to Gillen's X-Men, and while his team is made up of the same X-Men we've seen in action for the past couple years, he's smart enough to give us new pairings, just to see what happens. Namor and Hope's interactions are hilarious, while Psylocke and Magneto create some great tension. Add to that some great dramamtic irony (Psylocke has brought in the X-Men to fix a mistake that she helped create that resulted in the death of a city, but she doesn't tell them that), and you've got one of the best written issues I saw this month.

Can we get Carlos Pacheco back now, please?

X-Men: Legacy #261

By: Christos Gage & David Baldeon

Another Gage issue and another winner. If one thing was lacking in the later run of Mike Carey's X-Men: Legacy, it was an overall reason for the series to exist. Gage has given us one: teachers trying to protect their students, which is slightly different from the samely set Wolverine and the X-Men, which is more about the kids. As a teacher myself, I appreciate the whole "teachers for students" thing, and it haarkens back to the X-Men's roots as a school.

The choice of Exodus as villain was also a good one, and gives a great cliffhanger to this issue. It also gives us a continuation of Carey's run, while also allowing for more insight into our current cast. I can't wait to see what Gage does with his characters, especially the Cannonball-Husk brother-sister dynamic that hasn't been explored after the death of their brother, Icarus, several years ago. I'm excited for what comes next, and in comic books, that's a win.

Comic Pull List Reviews: Batwoman 6, Stormwatch 6, & more X-Men

Batwoman #6

By: JH Williams III, W. Haden Blackman, & Amy Reeder

This is Reeder's first issue as rotating artist, and while she simply can't match the beauty of Williams' pages, this issue is a strong debut. Reeder even gives a visual link to Williams' pages by ultilizing his nontraditional and expressive paneling. Reeder's pages look more typical superhero, but this is still recognizable as an issue of Batwoman.

But as far as the story goes, this issue is a non-starter. There are odd time jumps, so that the story is more confusing then anything. And worse of all, no major plot developments happen. For a storyline that's pretty much in it's sixth issue already, this is a problem. There's glacial pacing, and then there's straight up bad pacing. This is leaning towards the latter. I'm still liking it overall, but I need something to actually happen next issue.

Stormwatch #6

By: Paul Cornell & Miguel Sepulveda

This is Cornell's last issue, a victim of the immense creator shuffling already happening to DC's reboot. And I hate to say it, but this is also Cornell's best issue. The Stormwatch team's reason for being feels stronger here, and the characters have found their voices. Previous confusions have been explained, and new mysteries were added. There's some great flirting between Midnighter and Apollo, and the addition of a new character seems like it's going to be fun.

Sometimes it's really too bad to see a creator finally get it right and then lose the book to someone else. Let's hope the next writer can pick up where we left off and not start back at the drawing board. Also, does anybody know if the art is changing too or just the writer? Sepulveda's art has been solid, but not exceptional, for this series, with some great scifi moments and design.

Wolverine and the X-Men #5

By: Jason Aaron & Nick Bradshaw

Like Stormwatch, the strength here is in the characters. Each of Aaron's characters in this book have unique voices and perspectives, which is surprising given the size of the cast. And while the cast isn't what I would want (I'm sorely missing the New X-Men kids), Idie, Broo, and Genesis are providing for some great - and actually teenager-like - moments.

Also, I love the bright beautiful colors of this series. Bradshaw's art is slick, and Aaron plays to his strengths with the insane plot: we see aliens and the inside of a mutant DNA in this issue alone. An excellent addition to the X-Men line.

X-Factor #231

By: Peter David & Emanuela Lupacchino

From the great new addition to the old standard for X-cellence (pun!), David and Lupacchino give us another solid entry in this month's X-Factor. David tends to do his best work when given freedom, and we get a dimension-jumping Madrox here that fondly reminds me of the early days of Exiles. We're in for a fun ride with some great twists: Iron Man sentinels and a Captain America Deathlok.

But, in the end, this issue feels a bit like filler. It's well-drawn and colored, with some great dialogue, but we don't get any answers here, and the mystery barely even deepens. If this had been paired with more scenes from the rest of the team back home, I think we might have had a real winner, instead of an honorable mention.

X-Men (Vol. II) #24

By: Victor Gischler & Al Barrionuevo

I had dropped this title after only a few issues (despite a fondness for Jubilee that stems from the 90's X-Men cartoons) and came back to it after Schism. I love the team Gischler has chosen for his X-Men: Storm, Jubilee, Warpath, Domino, Colossus, and Psylocke are a great mix, but oddly, there's simply no character movement here.

Jubilee, now a vampire, meets up with other "good" vampires, the teased by Marvel months ago Forgiven. Unfortunately, for what was supposed to be the next big thing, the Forgiven kind of suck. Their designs are lackluster, and any charactization is skin-deep at best. You know it's bad when you have an entire issue to introduce a team of new characters, and by the end of it, you can't even remember their names. This one is a mess, folks. I'd skip it in favor of the better X-titles above.

Comic Pull List Reviews: Avengers: Children's Crusade 8, Birds of Prey 5, and some X-Men

Avengers: The Children's Crusade Limited Series #8 (of 9)

By: Allan Heinberg & Jim Cheung

I have to admit: I was actually shocked at the identity of the solicited death in this issue's cliffhanger. There were at least three better candidates in my mind, so I'm excited to see what happens next.

But other than that, this issue was a mess. This whole origin of Scarlet Witch's new powers still goes unnamed or unexplored, as Dr. Doom is defeated way too easily. There are a few good character moments, but there are simply so many characters here that this issue feels half done. Basically, this series might have been better off being one issue shorter. Or perhaps they just needed to take up time until Avengers Vs. X-Men?

Birds of Prey (Vol. III) #5

By: Duane Swierczynski & Jesus Saiz

When this series rebooted, with new character Starling and no Barbara Gordon anywhere in sight, I was worried. I tried it out, though, and I actually liked it - Swierczynski writes a mean Black Canary and Saiz's darker style hearkens back to when I first read the series with artist Butch Guice. The addition of a crazy Katana (more personality than she's had in a while) and a trying to do good (and well redesigned) Poison Ivy were stellar choices.

But then the first storyline has dragged on for five issues now, with a rather blank villain, when it feels like a 2 or 3 issue story. Barbara Gordon has even shown up, there might be a surprise gay in the mix, and I still can't be bothered to care. If this series doesn't pick up the pace in the next few issues, I'm afraid I'm going to have to drop it from my pull list.

New Mutants (Vol. III) #36

By: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, & David Lopez

The main thing I love about the post-Schism New Mutants is the art. Lopez has got this engaging style that's different than anything in the X-Men line or the majority of the Marvel line. While a bit on the cartoon side, each of the characters are distinctive to the extreme, there are great facial expressions all around, and his Warlock (a shape-changing, techno-organic alien) is one of the best I've ever seen.

And Abnett and Lanning (two writers I loved on Guardians of the Galaxy) normally bring it. But this issue, the final of the three-parter, feels blah. The writers play to their new artist's strengths, but the overall plot just feels pointless. Fan-favorite Blink, a recurring X-Men fringe character, appears but just leaves again, and the villain doesn't seem like they'll be returning anytime soon. It just begs the question: why did this story happen again?

Uncanny X-Men (Vol. II) #5

By: Kieron Gillen & Greg Lang

When Gillen first took over Uncanny X-Men from Matt Fraction, it felt like busy as usual. The same issues Fraction had, Gillen had. In fact, it was almost hard to tell that the writer had changed at all.

But with the relaunch of this series, Gillen suddenly emerged as the most engaging new X-Men writer in a long time, thanks mostly to a great understanding of the characters, a heavy dosing of humor amidst the melodrama, and the best dialogue anywhere on the Marvel line (take that, Brian Michael Bendis). You know a writer's got chops when the walking goddess Storm is consistently funny while still in character.

And sure, Greg Land is the artist on this issue. It's better than it was, pre-relaunch, but it's still not great with several recognizable phototraces from previous issues. Overall, though, I'm loving it.

X-Men: Legacy #260.1 (One-Shot)

By: Christos Gage & David Baldeon

Gage takes over the Legacy series here from longtime writer Mike Carey, and I have to say, I like it. For the first time since that school bus blew up, the X-Men's school feels like a school. Unlike previous incarnations, where the students were constantly fighting, it appears the students might actually be students. Especially if Rogue has anything to do with it.

The character mix Gage is using is a nice continuation from Carey's run, with the additions of a few new faces that might inject a much needed picker-upper for the series. Minor X-Men Rachel Grey, Cannonball, and Husk need more attention in my book, so I'm all for it. Overall, a good start to a new direction, with pretty, bright, but not remarkable art.

Comic Pull List: The End of Batgirl and Secret Six

Avengers Academy #17 (Fear Itself tie-in)

By: Christos Gage & Sean Chean

I've been raving about this series and its tie-in to Fear Itself, but this issue sort of hit the brakes for me. I mean, the kids come home, the teachers run off, and then, BOOM!, we're right back where we were, and all the emotional moments from the last few issues seem lost in a sea of Michael Bayisms.

Chen does a good fill-in here, grasping the characters different looks, but his best ability is getting the details right for some rather new characters - Finesse does a flip while her teammates get knocked on their butts or Mettle dives in front of his girlfriend when they get attacked. Well done on the characterization.

Batgirl #24 (Last Issue)

By: Bryan Q. Miller & Pere Perez

I always enjoy collections of possible futures or other worlds, especially if the artist is able to inject a lot of character and creativity into the images. But in this case, being the end of the road for my beloved Stephanie Brown Batgirl, I have to say I wanted more. There was some good closing moments (especially in  using the right supporting characters to end the series with), but the final battle, which should have been epic, got lost in what were obviously supposed to be another issue of stories.

I'll miss you, Steph. Come back soon.

Secret Six #36 (final issue)

By: Gail Simone & Jim Calafiore

Another casualty of DC's new 52 relaunch, Secret Six is just dang good fun and this issue showed us why. Simone gives a happy ending to only a few of our beloved not-so-villains, but does so by giving the reader some surprises and probably a dash of controversy. The art is great, especially Calafiore drawing some epic DC heroes.

I'm a little foggy as to what actually happens in the end, but that's pretty much the point. The Six takes on the entire DC heroic pantheon (a nice call back to them taking on a cadre of villains at the beginning of this run) and doesn't succeed, all while suggesting new and interesting takes on both what is a hero and who are your friends along the way.

Good-bye, naked Catman. We didn't see enough of you.

X-Factor #224

By: Peter David & Emanuela Lupacchino

Oh, I still love my X-Factor but Rahne's pregnancy and birth hasn't been my favorite storyline. While I do appreciate that David has been playing the long game with us (I actually didn't catch it), something just doesn't add up to interesting. The only thing that storywise saves this issue is Rahne herself, with one of the most horrible birthing scenes I've ever seen.

Plus, I don't get the ending. At all. I don't know the Jack Russell character that well, but I hope David is again playing the long game here, because otherwise it just doesn't fit. In the end, a disappointing end to two rather long storylines.

X-Men: Schism #2 (of 5)

By: Jason Aaron & Frank Cho

Oh, reliable Frank Cho. Can any comic book artist manage to out cheesecake you, with your gigantic and generally exposed female breasts? Although I have to admit, Cho also manages to show butt shots of the guys, so at least he's an equal opportunity objectifier. (Although that Dazzler cameo with the nearly bare breasts and starburst crotch was too jazz hands even for me.)

Other than that, I have to say I'm really kind of bored with the Cyclops and Wolverine show. I mean, I knew this was going to be a mini-series about their falling out, but the hugeness of the X-Men universe and all the diversity within it is what makes it so much fun. Reducing the X-Men to two points of view diminishes them,  I feel. Why are Emma, Rogue, and Storm not fighting back more? Storywise, it works, but not for long term characterization.

Comic Pull List: Avengers Academy, X-Men: Schism, & Secret Six

Avengers Academy #16

By: Christos Gage & Tom Raney

Frankly, I normally hate big event tie-in issues, but damn, Gage shows once again he knows how to work it. His take on Veil on this issue is perfect - a switch within her has been set off that was lit way back in issue #1, and here, Veil comes (disastrously) into her own. Raney's artwork, big and bright, isn't as gritty as a war needs, but even with superheroes like Pym toppling buildings and the Absorbing Man killing thousands, I'm still somewhat OK with it.

My main concern for this title is that Gage has the same issue that so many writers in the past have had: Pym just isn't that interesting as a lead character. Speedball has disappeared from the title, and Quicksilver and Justice simply aren't being used enough. Tigra is currently the only Avenger in the title being used well. Perhaps after this, a line-up change is in order?

Birds of Prey #14

By: Marc Andreyko & Billy Tucci

I loved Andreyko's Manhunter series (starring the underused Kate Spencer) and I'm hope that character survives the DC reboot. If not, it's nice to see her and her estranged grandmother, the WWII heroine Phantom Lady, hanging out with the Birds of Prey (who has a WWII heroine of their own, the time displaced Lady Blackhawk). It's a good mix, and Andreyko adds his humor without interrupting the flow of previous writer Gail Simone's overall tone.

The one big beef I have is that sometimes it's hard to tell what parts of the story are taking place in the modern day and those in the past. There's no effort made by the inker and coloring teams to change the style or tone of the art, and Tucci does little himself to showcase the differences between the eras. It's a shame, cause it's a big missed opportunity.

Secret Six #35

By: Gail Simone & J. Calafiore

The most disappointing thing about this title right now isn't that this is the second-to-last issue. It's the fact that this issue was one of the worst Secret Six issues ever. While I normally love the issues where the team fights each other more than they fight other villains, this one's take on Bane reclaiming his more madman roots and hatred of Batman is puzzling. The change of character seems odd for Bane, especially since he wants the Six to attack Batman's associates, not the Bat himself.

I feel like perhaps this was a story that Simone and Calafiore wanted to tell over time but were rushed to finish it before the impending relaunch. The ultra-violence the Six visit upon another Batman character (I won't spoil it here, as the Six picks up a new member) seems strange, considering that they normally reserve violence for those who truly deserve it. If Secret Six as a whole was a study in superhero morality, then this issue was a complete tangent that doesn't fit.

Uncanny X-Men #541

By: Kieron Gillen & Greg Land

And unlike the Fear Itself tie-in I loved in Avengers Academy above, this issue proves my point that most of the time, tie-in issues don't really work. The X-Men (mainly, Cyclops & Hope) face off against the Juggernaut, who has been possessed. While the Juggernaut is a good villain (and former X-Man), this issue features nothing more than a brawl. The few things that are good (Emma's line: "It's my psychic projection. If I want to have a throne, that's entirely my prerogative." and brief appearances by a few of my favorite X-Men: Storm, Dazzler, & Dr. Reyes) aren't even close enough to outnumber the shallowness of the plot and the horrible Greg Land art.

Ugh. I'm almost happy this series is getting rebooted, too.

X-Factor #222

By: Peter David & Emanuela Lupaccino

Despite having all the normal things that make X-Factor one of my favorite series (C-list cast that shines, amazing one-liners, & punch to the gut twists), this issue just doesn't really do much for me. I think it's mostly due to the fact that this storyline could have been one issue shorter - a common problem for X-Factor but one that's normally covered up by great character work.

I do like the random appearance of another forgotten C-list Marvel hero - it's really like a hallmark of the series, but I'm still not sure why I care about all those random villains. Like Uncanny X-Men, the villain of the piece just doesn't have enough motive beyond "I want to". And the heroes just want to survive. It's not enough of a real conflict. David is normally better than that.

X-Men: Schism #1 (of 5)

By: Jason Aaron & Carlos Pacheco

The best thing so far about this series? Oh, god, that Pacheco artwork. Pacheco is one of Marvel's best artists, and I loved his original run on X-Men back near 2000 or so. He still rocks a mighty Wolverine. Second best thing about this series? Aaron remembered that Storm, until very recently, was the longest running leader of the X-Men, not Professor X or Cyclops. If Aaron keeps Storm front and center, and perhaps pulls a curve ball by removing Cyclops completely from the X-Men leadership, I'd be a happy camper.

Now, we know that this series is all about Wolverine & Cyclops disagreeing and the reappearance of the Hellfire Club. So far, the new Club is boring. I mean, the identity of the Club's master best be more complex than what it is in this issue, cause that's kind of silly (even for comics). And Kid Omega? Please, can we move beyond the awfulness that was Morrison's New X-Men? While it reinvented some good aspects of the X-Men (see: Emma Frost), it also opened a whole can of worms that essentially stalled the X-Men's development in general (see: the death of Jean, reveal of the Xavier school as mutant paradise, Xorn). Ugh. If Sublime shoes up, I might scream.

Comic Pull List: Young Avengers, Batgirl, & X-Men

Avengers: The Children's Crusade #6

By: Allan Heinberg & Jim Cheung

You've got to hand it to Cheung: his Young Avengers are simply beautiful. And in this issue, he manages to add about ten more characters to this book's already overstuffed cast and still make them look good. If all comics were drawn by Terry Dodson and Jim Cheung, I think I would be in comic book nerd heaven. (Although I might eventually get bored and wish for some George Perez and Nicola Scott.)

But that same character overstuffing that marks how good Cheung is also shows the reader how complicated and crazy this series has gotten. While you have some great character moments - Wanda finally gets the thing she's been wanting since she went crazy and not everyone reacts the way you'd expect - most of the issue is more like plot points, moving a chess board along. It's too much set-up, too many characters, and not enough story or action to really make a good comic.

Batgirl #23

By: Bryan Q Miller & Pere Perez

I'm still so mad that this series is getting canceled in favor of a walking Barbara Gordon. Miller has done great work with redeeming Stephanie Brown, and this issue, the series' penultimate, shows just how smart Steph can be. Stripped of her normal support staff, Brown does want Batman doesn't do: she asks for help.

It's nice to see that Miller seems to have known the end was coming in time to deliver character endings for several of the cast: Det. St. Nick gets a push from Batgirl, the Gray Ghost, Batgirl's fanboy, gets a rather concrete end, and Batgirl finally solves the mystery of the Reapers while bringing her face-to-face with the person who should be her biggest villain. I won't spoil it here, but I'll just say I'm really glad Miller got to tell this story before the series was canceled. In trade form, I'm sure Batgirl's epic will hold together well, because it should have a strong ending.

Fear Itself: Youth in Revolt #3 (of 6)

By: Sean McKeever & Mike Norton

I was a bit worried by this series, but now, I think I'm kind of liking it. Besides some major Juggernaut overload(we'll see him again in the next review, too), this issue covered lots of ground, had some nice character reactions, touched in on some forgotten characters, and highlighted some characters who needed it. I still say that the Initiative kids were some of Marvel's best post-Civil War creations and they deserve their own ongoing again.

The only thing I do wish for with this series is that it needs to be more than a team of superheroes fighting on the outskirts of the major event. These characters, as a group, don't seem to have some sort of uber-focus, making the entire series seem unneccesary. While I love the characters, and McKeever and Norton are doing quite well with them, I don't yet see why I care about this story beyond that. Where's their motivation, beyond not getting killed?

Uncanny X-Men #540

By: Kieron Gillen & Greg Land

While  most of the art in this Comic Book Pull List has been good, I've got to sayit: I think Greg Land is getting worse. There's a really horrible panel of Mayor Sadie drinking from a coffee cup and Cyclopes looks like a beleaguered Tom Cruise who needs to lose a few pounds. And Illyana? Wait. That's Magik, not Emma Frost? Are you sure? Cause I ain't. Ugh. And it ain't even pretty.

The writing's pretty good, though, picking up a thread about Magik's destructive tendencies and lack of soul from New Mutants, which means she'll be the one who finally defeats the Juggernaut (who's in Vegas and San Fran at the same time - sounds like a party!), but overall, it's a decently paced X-Men story. Could have used a bit more movement, though - it feels like the series is stalling to make way for whatever's going to happen in X-Men: Schism.

X-Men: Legacy #251

By: Mike Carey & Khoi Pham

While this is a completely serviceable issue and storyline, I've really got to ask: why do I care? I mean, you've got some nice Frenzy moments, who Carey is trying to make into a three dimensional character, and some nice Legion moments where he admits how dangerous he is and why Magneto's on this mission, but overall, I'm just not feeling it. There's no big twist, and like its sister title above, this series seems like it's treading water to get to X-Men: Schism.

I do, however, enjoy Carey's creative use of powers. Like using Tempo's time distortion in Age of X, he's created several new character powers here that are fun and seem original. The problem is that they're not real characters - just parts of Legion's schizophrenic mind. Hopefully Legion will use these powers again in the future. Otherwise, it's kind of a waste.

Comic Pull List: The I'm Still Pissed about DC's Reboot Edition

Batgirl #22

By: Bryan Q Miller & Pere Perez

And here's yet another wonderful romp in the world of Stephanie Brown, Batgirl. This is Steph's first adventure as part of Batman Incorporated (for those of you who don't know, Grant Morrison has decided that there will be multiple Batmen, one for each country, with Bruce Wayne pretending to be their bankroller) and teams her up with the other Bat-family bundle of joy, Squire, aka the British and female version of Robin.

In the end, this issue is just plan old fun. The art is clean, Stephanie and Squire make some great facial expressions, and there's a good action dynamic to the whole thing. The humor is balanced with some great action sequences. All in all, I'm very angry that this series will be cancelled in a few months, in favor of Babara Gordon (with walking!) as Batgirl.

Birds of Prey #13

By: Gail Simone & Diego Olmos

Don't get me wrong. I love Birds of Prey and Gail Simone, but this series has just been awful from the beginning. I think I'm only now just seeing it.

While there have been some good moments, the overall lackluster nature of the book is truly starting to shine (smudge?) through. So while I'm still annoyed over the book's cancellation, I guess I can understand why new blood is needed. Simone seems to be saving her best dialogue and stories for Secret Six while this book just gets more boring. Simone even manages to make one of her own best creations boring here. And the ending? Really? Huntress? That just doesn't seem like a bright idea. Also, the art was off the whole issue with strange perspectives and stretched out faces.

Uncanny X-Force #11

By: Rick Remender & Mark Brooks

I picked up this book because I simply couldn't say no to the return of two of my favorite X-things: the Age of Apocalypse, an alternate world where the villain Apocalypse rules America, and the Exiles, a team of dimension-hopping X-Men. And while this issue doesn't disappoint, it also seems too clean and too structured. The characters are chosen for maximum emotional damage to our cast, sure, but it's almost too nicely done. It's like there's no surprises here.

But still, the book is fun, with great dialogue and pacing from Remender and vibrant artwork from Brooks. I particularly love how Brooks grasps the look of the AoA, which made its first comic appearance in the early 90's, meaning lots of things being overdone. Brooks manages to make it look clean and big and still a bit scary.

Uncanny X-Men #538

By: Kieron Gillen & Terry Dodson

I had high hopes for Gillen on this series but the conclusion to his first solo story was a big let down. Shadowcat gets her magic fix (emphasis on magic) for her phasing problem, the villains once again become allies, and appearances by several X-Men go wasted. There's a few good action moments, like when Kitty finds Wolverine, but that's about it.

The only thing keeping this series together is the Dodson's artwork, which is absolutely beautiful. If only Greg Land didn't share this series with them. I do wonder, however, if Gillen will be able to work things out between after the series relaunch this fall, when he has a more stable cast of characters to work with.

X-Factor #221

By: Peter David & Dennis Calero

This issue is all set-up and no pay off. While David can make that work sometimes, this issue just fell flat. There's a few great and hilarious moments, and Layla is back to being weird (it was better when she was weird and 10 years old, but what you gonna do?), but the overall effect, especially with the ghost Feral and random god-like creatures attacking, is wasted. There's a lot of movement, but not a lot of danger.

I'm also glad that David is finally going to address the damage done to Wolfsbane's character by the previous writers. She's supposed to be a good Christian girl and she went and got knocked up. Of course, she only got knocked up after using her wolf form to literally devour her evil, rapist priest of a father. That's right, folks, she ate her dad. Gross. I hope David can come up with a way to fix that one that still makes sense.

X-Men: Legacy #250

By: Mike Carey, Khoi Pham, & Steve Kurth

I like most of the ideas in this issue, but I'm not sure I like the actual execution. So this new X-team, while not quite as crazy as Carey's previous X-Men team (which featured no less than 4 semi-reformed villains), is a bit off (3 reformed villains, 1 reformed thief, 1 crazy, 1 jerk). And their mission is to track down Legion's missing personalities (he's schizophrenic) who escaped his brain and are now running around. Um, OK?

And while the second story, featuring Marvel Girl, is much more interesting, the experimental way its told (essentially, backwards) gets lost on the reader. I could not figure out what was going on until about the fourth page. And instead of thinking "Oh, clever", I thought "Oh, annoying". I'm all for trying new things, but this one didn't work out.

I am excited, though, if Marvel Girl's story is any indication of where this series will go. That would be a story worth telling, I believe, as Marvel Girl, Polaris, and Havok have been MIA for several years now. And I can't wait to see Polaris's reaction to seeing her dear old daddy Magneto again.