REVIEW: The Amazing X-Men #1 + 2

Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Penciler: Andy Kubert
Inker: Matt Ryan
Colorist: Kevin Somers
Review: Art Bee

Who doesn’t love a good X-Men story? Personally, I would like to believe everyone loves them. As a kid, X-Men was one of my staple comics, but in the 90s Marvel started getting greedy. They began multiplying the same story into various teams and groups of X-men. As a youngster my funds were very limited, so X-Men hit the chopping block. If I could not have them all; I would have none at all. Now in my adulthood I have a targeted approach to gathering some of the X-Men comics of old, especially those including Apocalypse.

These two issues are part of the opening of the “The Age of Apocalypse” event. The book focuses on a team of X-men featuring:  Storm, Banshee, Exodus, Iceman, Dazzler, and Quicksilver. The majority of North America is under the control of Apocalypse and his Horsemen, most of the humans are enslaved, and mutant-kind must either kneel to Apocalypse or die. Storm and her companions are sent to the coast of Maine to protect a large group of humans during their evacuation to the refuge shores of Europe.  

REVIEW: What If? Vol. 1 #37

Review: Madman

“What If The Thing Had Continued To Mutate?”

Scripter: Tom DeFalco
Finish Artist: Sam De La Rosa
Colorist: Dave Billman

Oh, yeah, that 35 year old comic smell. Ya just can’t beat it…except maybe with a 35-year old What If? comic. The cover alone is worth the crumpled up Washington I forked over for the book, with the super beastly Beast, bulked up Thing, and the Silver Surfer with a crotch so shiny that it should probably be illegal…
I guess the smell was free…

The first little story involves the Thing and what occurred when he was infected with a newly developed highly  radioactive strain of virus as seen in Marvel Two-In-One #81. The 2nd page really delivers with the renegade A.I.M. scientist that we know and love as M.O.D.O.K. holding the Thing prisoner and infecting him with his mysterious Virus X. Giant-Man eventually uses some sort of Anti-Radiation gun to cure Ben of the virus but “What If?” it didn’t go down like that. In this alternate reality the Thing is mutated even further by the virus into an even uglier, rockier, two fingered rock beast and…crashes his scooter. With the help of Captain America and Giant-Man, the Fantastic Four get Ben back to the Baxter Building just as the virus’ effects reach critical mass, and Ben explodes in a green radiation fog. Instead of him being blown into a million little pebbles, the explosion burns all the radiation out of his body. This included the original cosmic radiation that had infected him that fateful day when the Fantastic Four were originally irradiated. Ben is 100% radiation-free and reverts back to his uncool human self. I’m so glad this didn’t really go down, because I’m a big fan of the orange rock dude.  

REVIEW: Michael Turner's Fathom vol 1 #1

Story: Bill O’Neal
Pencils: Michael Turner
Inks: Joe Weems V & Victor Llamas
Colors: Jonathan D. Smith
Letters: Dennis Heisler
Review: Art Bee

It’s time for another sanctioned dive into the ol’ dusty boxes. Usually this involves some thumbing and some serious thinking; this time around was an exception. Toward the front of one of my boxes I found the 1998 issues of Michael Turner’s Fathom, vol.1. Michael Turner is one of my favorite artists of all time. His work across Marvel and DC are great, but my favorite exists within the covers of Witchblade and Fathom comics.

This first issue of Fathom is one of Turner’s greatest. He created the story’s framework and, much like Todd McFarlane, contracts out the writing. Artists draw; authors write. I feel like I am working with watercolors here.

The first issue is about as well-sculpted as comics come. It provided just the right amount of background to put the reader in the know while setting several plot hooks ensuring your return. What kept me buying at the time was the artwork. I bought several of the first issues just to flip the pages and stare at the pictures…and those didn’t even include any nudity. Even the lettering seems to be something special. Honestly I think the inkers had the easiest job of all but the most stress. Don’t muck up the lines!