Crispin Glover is one of those actors whose filmography is pretty prolific. Like many actors you feel as though he leaves a piece of themselves within their characters. As many play a version of themselves. This why many actors relish their roles , especially when it comes to a character who is a bit unhinged.
This is why he really shined in his role in American Gods, which shows how he could tap into eccentricities to sculpt a masterful character. Then there is his role in Cabinet of Curiosities where he showed his range more so than most of his roles. But for me and many genre fans, he will always be George McFly in Back to The Future. In Shang-Chi: Master of the Ten Rings #1, our protagonist travels back in time to meet his father like Marty did in those BTTF movies , but in a much more complex paternal portrayal.
We are taken to the Temple of Zheng Zu in China, the bones of Zheng Zu have been found, leading some nefarious characters to resurrect this ancient evil. We also find Shang Chi and his siblings tracking this mysterious group, where we soon find out are former warriors of the Deadly Hand. This leads to a fight between the two and unexpected turn, where a time portal is opened and Shang is transported back in time, to when his father and uncles were still young. AS he gets to know him, he understands just how different he was, and how life’s complications made him the father would become. By issue’s end, Shang’s siblings find a way to bring him back.
Overall, Shang-Chi: Master of the Ten Rings #1 is a fun debut issue which shows off why Gene Luen Yang is a master storyteller. The story by Yang is exquisite. The art by the creative team is gorgeous. Altogether, a story that fans of the movie and the character will surely enjoy.
Story: Gene Luen Yang Art: Michael Yg Color: Erick Arciniega, Fer Sifuentes-Sujo Letterer: Travis Lanham Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Writer: Carlos Hernandez Artist: Zé Carlos Colorist: Erick Arciniega Editor: Ellie Pyle One-shot launches on Saturday, December 24
A Miles Morales Holiday One-Shot! It’s Christmas Eve, also known as Nochebuena among many Spanish-speaking communities. Miles is trying his best to fight a crime wave and get to his mother’s Nochebuena fundraiser on time. How can Miles save the day without disappointing the people he loves most?
(W) Ram V. (A) Roge Antonio (C) Erick Arciniega (L) Joe Sabino (CA) Kendrick Lim (VCA) Declan Shalvey RATED T+ In Shops: Sep 21, 2022 SRP: $3.99
The Carnage symbiote has a bloodlust unlike any other organism in the Marvel Universe. IN THIS ISSUE, its ruthless and aggressive efforts to quench that bloodlust reach new and never before seen heights. But what in the Hel is Carnage up to, and what will it do to anyone who gets in its way?!
Life is full of unexpected events that no one can see coming. As the most diligent people often plan and plan for contingencies, and still it does not cover everything. There things we cannot anticipate, and there are people we do not anticipate being part of those events either. This is exactly how life throws those curveballs at you, which is why I tend to believe anything can happen.
There are certain people that will come into your life although it seems like it can take a millennia before you realize their purpose. As this is when you realize you can only control your own actions and react accordingly. This is where a strange alchemy between karma and purpose often intertwine. In Ms. Marvel and Moon Knight, Kamala is lead to find Marc, to hunt down a diabolical threat.
We are taken to New York City, where a swarm of tiny robots attacks a woman in an alley, and leaves a message for Moon Knight, “The Harvest is coming!”. The next night, Ms Marvel is tracking down those samer robots, who incidentally attacked Wolverine and is lead to Moon Knight’s storefront, where he hears the grievances of those who dwell in this neighborhood. They decide to team up together and hunt them, as the bots qucily adapt, the two use water to counteract them this time, while electricity helped the last time. Knowing that they are outnumbered, Moon Knight enlists the help of another disciple of Konshu, Hunter’s Moon, who offers a hand in neutralizing the threat once and for all. By issue’s end, they stop the threat, but another element’s of the main perpetrator’s plan has gone into play.
Overall, Ms. Marvel and Moon Knight is a fun mystery that uses superheroes a little differently. The story by Houser is exciting. The art by the different creators is awe inspiring. Altogether, a story that is only one piece to a grander mystery.
There are times when it seems like the weight of the world is on you. This can make or break many people. As it how that person deals with that stress talks to how strong minded they are. Some people would let it crush them and would wait too long to ask for help.
Other people would find it an opportunity to thrive. Sometimes, it is more than one thing that comes at you, and your problems do get compounded. As the question then becomes , can you deal with more than one problem? In Shang-Chi and The Ten Rings#2, Shang-Chi is still dealing with every villain in the Marvel Universe hunting him but he also has to help save an old friend.
We find Master Ling and Shang Chi at a hidden location, where he has decided to lock away the rings, hoping it would deter the villains searching for them, a plan Master Ling see fallacy in. We are taken back to the Five Weapons Society headquarters, where Leiko Wu is looking for help in finding her ex-husband, Clive Reston, who has enemies in every corner of the world. This leads the two to the grotto of Carlton Velcro, who wants revenge on Shang Chi and uses Clive’s kidnapping as a trap. Meanwhile, the Hand steals flight coordinates from Five Weapons Society headquarters. By issue’s end, the rings have been stolen and a key betrayal leaves Shang, powerless and close to death.
Overall, Shang-Chi and The Ten Rings #2 is a twisted second issue that makes this series even more intriguing. The story by Yang is exciting. The art by the creative team is enthralling. Altogether, a story that shows that those closest cannot be trusted sometimes.
Story: Gene Luen Yang Art: Marcus To Color: Erick Arciniega Letterer: Travis Lanham Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
“With great power comes great responsibility”, is one of the most quoted lines made famous in comics that those who aren’t part of the fandom know. It’s an iconic line that feels like it’s been uttered in every iteration of Spider-Man onscreen. Most people repurpose the quote to show the magnitude of the responsibility one may have. The responsibility isn’t just what you will do with your talents but also what you won’t do.
You can see firsthand the flipside of Spider-Man’s responsibility in his rogues gallery. It’s filled with individuals who also have amazing powers but instead of using them in altruistic ways, they use it for personal gain. This dynamic is also true for other heroes and the villains they face. In Shang-Chi and The Ten Rings#1, Shang-Chi finds out firsthand how just about anyone would want to possess those ten rings.
We’re taken to the headquarters of the Five Weapons Society, where Shang Chi now runs his father’s organization, also where the Ten Rings reside. Unfortunately, a few of Shang Chi’s men foolishly underestimated their power, but thankfully he was there to prevent any further damage. This incident only adds to his confirmation that he may be turning into his father, as he is well aware of the corruption that the Ten Rings brings its holder. As he tries to find some semblance of normal, his girlfriend, Delilah looks for him to open up to her, but their day out gets interrupted by an assassination attempt by Razor Fist. We soon find out that he is not the only one, as Hydra decides to come after the Ten Rings as well, as they invade the Five Weapons Society headquarters, and brings with him, Lady Iron Fan. By issue’s end, he finds out a key close betrayal has opened him to every threat in the Marvel Universe and that he must protect it at all costs.
Overall, Shang-Chi and The Ten Rings #1 is an action packed debut that shows the world who Shang Chi really is. The story by Yang is intricate and powerful. The art by the creative team is awe inspiring. Altogether, a fun story that will remind readers of Deadpool Vs Marvel Universe.
Story: Gene Luen Yang Art: Marcus To Color: Erick Arciniega Letterer: Travis Lanham Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
The anthology series renowned for its fresh take on “the world outside your window” is launching a new one-shot! Marvel’s Voices: Amadeus Cho #11has launched on Marvel Unlimited in the exclusive Infinity Comic format.
The new comic is from writer John Tsuei, artist Lynne Yoshii, colorist Erick Arciniega, and editor Sarah Brunstad.
Marvel’s Voices shines a spotlight on Amadeus Cho, a.k.a. Brawn! A Champion, an Agent of Atlas, a former Hulk – the super genius Amadeus Cho has worn a lot of mantles. But no matter the adventure, there’s one thing he’ll always be: a really good friend. And the mystically-powered White Fox needs one of those more than ever before. Video games and comics writer Jon Tsuei joins rising star Lynne Yoshii for a tale of magic, mystery, and mayhem in South Korea!
When Neil Gaiman wrote Marvel 1602, he re-imagined our favorite heroes during medieval times. It gave us a brand new look at how these characters would fare in a different time and different place. As the years have gone by since it was first published, fans have been clamoring for a return to that world.
As medieval sword and fantasy stories have become popular again, our favorite superheroes in these settings have been missed. You can take a show like Game Of Thrones, where magic and supernatural creatures are part of that world, and you can easily see our favorite mutants living there. In the newest event surrounding Krakoa, we find Professor X’s brood dealing with a whole new municipality where they can live free but not without its complications. In the debut issue of Tini Howard’s Knights of X, we find Betsy Braddock being the only hope to restore order in Otherworld.
We’re taken to Otherworld, which is ruled by Merlyn, King Arthur and his loyal knights, who search the land looking for what they call “witchbreed” better known as mutants to the rest of us. This doesn’t bode well for Jersey Devil, who is not of this world but from Krakoa, and if he gets killed here, he can’t be revived like he could back on Earth, but thankfully, a soldier from the Captain Britain Corps comes to his rescue. We soon find out Merlyn has taken control of Starlight Citadel, the gate that goes to Krakoa, now known as the Lunatic Citadel, and the only respite the super powered has in this world, is the kingdom of Roma, who just so happens to be Merlyn’s daughter. As we find Betsy Braddock and Roma at odds , as they can’t agree on how to wage war against Merlyn and his merciless genocide against mutants, as they find a back way to Krakoa, which gives Betsy an idea to recruit some reinforcements with the Grimoire of Apocalypse in hand, to even the odds with a powerful sorcerer like Merlyn. By the issue’s end, Betsy brings the fight to King Arthur and his knights, recruits a different version of Morded and finally forms what Roma envisioned, the Knights Of X.
Overall, Knights of X #1 is one of the better stories from the Krakoan Age event, one which invokes high fantasy. The story by Howard is fascinating. The art by creative team is awe inspiring. Altogether, it’s a story that uses the best part of the Arthurian legend and injects it with our favorite mutants.
Story: Tini Howard Art: Bob Quinn Color: Erick Arciniega Letterer: Ariana Maher Design: Tom Muller Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
(W) Gene Luen Yang (A) Marcus To (C) Erick Arciniega (L) Travis Lanham (CA) Leinil Francis Yu & Sunny Gho (VCA) Creees Lee & Jesus Aburtov, Leinil Francis Yu & Sunny Gho In Shops: Mar 23, 2022 SRP: $3.99 Rated T+
NEW ARC STARTS HERE! For months, a mysterious mastermind has been operating behind the scenes to take down Shang-Chi and his family. Now, he is stepping out of the shadows to make his final strike. His objective? To destroy everyone in Shang-Chi’s bloodline! Join writer Gene Luen Yang and new ongoing artist, Marcus To (EXCALIBUR), as they embark on the next new phase of Shang-Chi’s legend!
In honor of Pride Month, Marvel Comics dropped a big 84 pages one-shot celebrating both its LGBTQ+ creators and characters. Beginning with a story from Luciano Vecchio that’s not sure if it’s telling the story of queer characters in the Marvel Universe from an in-universe or more of a real-world documentary perspective,Marvel Voices Pride #1 sputters with a story that basically says aliens and shapeshifters brought the idea of being non-binary, genderqueer, or gender nonconforming to this world followed by a text-heavy Allan Heinberg/Jim Cheung Young Avengers reunion. However, it catches its footing with a cute Karolina Dean/Nico Minoru story, and for the most part, it provides a wide spectrum of LGBTQ+ representation with a special focus on the mutant/X-Men side of the Marvel Universe, who have acted as a mostly metaphorical representation to queer fans like myself. However, it’s nice to see characters like Anole, Prodigy, Destiny, Karma, and Jessie Drake get the spotlight along with more prominently featured cis male gay characters like Northstar (His coming out story in Alpha Flight #106 is reprinted at the end) and Iceman. But fans of non-mutant/Runaways/Wiccan and Hulkling characters may be disappointed as characters like Angela, Sera, Hercules, and America Chavez don’t appear except in small cameo roles.
Marvel VoicesPride #1 kicks off with a journey through the LGBTQ+ history of the Marvel Universe from writer/artist Luciano Vecchio. Even though many of his adult characters look like teens, Vecchio has a beautiful art style and color palette. However, my issue with this first story isn’t the form, but the content. As mentioned earlier, this introductory story isn’t sure if it’s being told from the perspective of the real world or Earth-616 even though it’s narrated by Prodigy. It also has a very self-congratulatory, back-patting tone, especially for a company that recently cancelled a book starring many of its queer characters (X-Factor) and mentions characters like Angela and Sera that haven’t been barely heard or seen from since getting their own title in 2015. Even though Vecchio is a queer creator, there’s big “ally” energy in this first story with a heterosexual character, Captain America getting the spotlight, and the implication that non-binary identities came from aliens and shapeshifters. He does successfully lay out what ended up being a thesis for the anthology, which is the connection between mutants and queer identity.
This story is followed by a one page Young Avengers creator reunion as Allan Heinberg, Jim Cheung, and Marcelo Maiolo chronicle Hulking and Wiccan’s wedding vows. Heinberg’s writing is tender, but this feels like more of a prose piece than a comic. Heinberg and Cheung’s inclusion seems like more stunt-casting to get older queer Marvel fans interested in the one-shot rather than being any kind of substantial addition to their work on Young Avengers. However, Marvel Voices: Pride rights the ship (Pun fully intended.) in its next story featuring two members of Marvel’s other prominent 2000s teen superhero team, the Runaways. Mariko Tamaki, Kris Anka, and Tamra Bonvillain turns in three pages of sweet glances, chatter, and a super adorable kiss as Nico Minoru and Karolina Dean think about what they would tell people if they asked how they met. The long line out of the venue reminded me of the pre-pandemic days when I would wait in line for hours to get a good spot to see artists like Carly Rae Jepsen and Robyn with my fellow queer folks, and Bonvillain’s summery color palette matches Anka’s skill with facial expressions. This story is like the cherry on top of the sundae that he helped build when he was the artist on Runaways and finally put Karolina and Nico in a relationship together.
The next story in Marvel Voices Pride is the first one to feature a trans protagonist, Dr. Charlene McGowan from Immortal Hulk. The plot of Lilah Sturges, Derek Charm, and Brittany Peer is about some “hilarious” misunderstandings when Lady Daredevil aka the artist formerly known as Elektra Natchios and some Z-list, rapping supervillains raid McGowan’s lab when they think she’s producing mutant growth hormone when when she’s actually working on a way to get trans women’s bodies to produce progesterone without taking pills. What follows is Trans 101 with a little bit of ass kicking courtesy Charm, who is in his Bronze Age element with the cheesy costumes and dark shadows. However, other than the fact that’s she a scientist who sometimes makes jokes, we don’t learn anything about Dr. McGowan except that she’s surprisingly cool with microaggressions from A-List Marvel heroes. Kudos to Marvel Voices‘ editorial for getting a trans writer in Sturges to pen this story, but the whole thing feels reductive and geared towards fanboys who know every member of Daredevil or Hulk’s rogues gallery and have never interacted with a transgender person.
In contrast, Leah Williams, Jan Bazaldua, and Erick Arciniega re-introduce Marvel’s first transgender character, the mutant Jessie Drake in a thrilling manner as she appears in her first comic in 27 years. However, Black Cat is the protagonist of this story and is tracking down Steel Raven, a villain who’s been impersonating her, pulling some sloppy heists, and ruining her reputation. Williams’ quippy writing style works well for the fast-paced short story as Black Cat and Jessie meet, flirt, and figure out their next move in catching Steel Raven. Bazaldua plays with space and transforms what would normally be your run of the mill villain warehouse into something more surreal. She and Williams do succeed in building a connection between Jessie and Black Cat as well as showing off Jesse’s empathy-based abilities, but this is just a teaser for a bigger cat and mouse game. Hopefully, there’s room for more batting of eyes, power showcasing, and insight into the character of Jessie Drake, both in her own series or in Black Cat’s current ongoing, which has been a sneaky good read.
Continuing this positive trend is Crystal Frasier, Jethro Morales, and Rachelle Rosenberg telling a wonderful She-Hulk and Titania. But there’s a twist as Jennifer Walters doesn’t appear, but Jennifer Harris, who was inspired by her to come out as trans and cosplay her at a copyright friendly version of New York Comic Con. As someone who came out as bi around the same time Prodigy did in Young Avengers or when Iceman came out as gay in All-New X-Men, I can definitely connect to the inspirational power of fictional characters like Jennifer did with She-Hulk. She and Titania also have some nice banter, and Frasier and Morales also remind readers that She-Hulk was the original fourth wall breaker with some jokes and exploding layouts.
After the She-Hulk story is probably my favorite story of Marvel Voices Pride #1, which is a Prodigy and Speed one from Kieron Gillen, Jen Hickman, and Brittany Peer as Gillen returns to both the X-Men and Young Avengers franchises. The dialogue between Speed and Prodigy sparkles, and Hickman shows off their chops as a storyteller working in eating pizza, stealing glances at Colossus, and empathizing with Kitty Pryde as Prodigy basically tells his bisexual origin story. His story also acts as a critique of how the mutant books have been good about metaphorical queer representation, but not actual queer representation. This is timely because the book that Prodigy was a main cast member in is getting cancelled. However, this is really a lovely story full of hilarious and insightful writing from Kieron Gillen and pitch-perfect images and comedic timing from Hickman as Speed teases Prodigy for having a crush on Colossus when he ran with the New Mutants. Prodigy is true overthinking, chaos bisexual representation, and I’m personally glad to see him get a spotlight in this story even if it’s only a few pages long.
The anthology takes a break from comics for a bit and features an interview with Christian Cooper, one of the first queer editors at Marvel, and he talks about his experiences at the company and the impact comics have had on his life. After this, there’s a timeline of big LGBTQ+ moments in Marvel Comics. It’s followed up with a cute Anole story from Terry Blas, the wonderful Paulina Ganucheau, and Kendall Goode. Blas connects the idea of Krakoa being a mutant utopia to things like Pride, and the ability to unwind at the Green Lagoon with folks who understand your struggles being the goal of all this hard work and fighting. However, it’s not all big metaphors as he and Ganucheau probe into Anole’s body issues leading to him not wanting to date along with his friendship with Jonas Graymalkin. It all ends on a fabulous final page, and this story is worth checking out for Ganucheau and Goode’s soft, colorful takes on the different mutants.
Sticking with the mutant theme, Anthony Oliveira, Javier Garron, and David Curiel go all in with the mutant as gay metaphor in an Iceman story set during the time period of the original five X-Men. They play on the fact that Magneto was played by a gay man in four of the X-Men films and find a real connection between Bobby and Magneto, who takes a break from the missiles to provide a listening ear to this young man struggling with his identity. Oliveira writes Iceman as having a crush on Angel, and Garron nails the longing glances that he throws at the majestic mutant that turn into words when Magneto sits down to chat with him. They take the subtext (For example, Bobby not being interested in Jean Grey when she joins the team.) of these Silver Age text and transform them into glorious text while also showing off the sweeter side of Magneto, a man who would one day break down when he realized that his crusade almost led to the death of an innocent child, Kitty Pryde.
This story is followed up by one focusing on the relationship between Northstar and his husband, Kyle Jinadu from writer/artist J.J. Kirby. It’s touching to see what Northstar is like away from the cameras and public, and what Kyle loves about them. However, Kirby’s 1990s-style artwork with modern, digital coloring is a mismatch for the story, and I spent most of the time wondering why Northstar looked like a vampire or a block of ice instead of the events of the story. Luckily, the misstep is remedied by a thrilling riff on Sherlock Holmes vs. Professor Moriarty from Tini Howard, Samantha Dodge, and Brittany Peer featuring Mystique and Destiny. The story is adventurous filled with wits matching, chess games, and lover’s embraces and shows how iconic a couple these two are while also showing what a big deal it was for them to be open with their love in a time period where being queer got you thrown in jail. Plus it’s a reminder that queer people have always existed in history. (Or fiction.)
Vita Ayala, Joanna Estep, Brittney Williams, and Brittany Peer continue the theme of both mutants and queer women in a Karma story set during the Hellfire Gala after party where Magik gives her a pep talk to dance (and maybe even smooch) Elle, who as far as I can tell is a new, queer mutant created for this anthology. Karma truly gets the spotlight this story and gets to work out some of her issues with her powers and emotions as she’s afraid that if she asks Elle out that she’ll use her abilities to mess with her free will. However, this doesn’t happen, and we get to see a mutant who has been screwed over so many times be happy for once and get the girl in a beautiful sequence from Ayala, Estep, Williams, and Peer.
The final story in Marvel Voices Pride #1 again shows that Steve Orlando is perfect for writing violent, queer characters with a sensitive side as he and Claudia Aguirre tell the story of Daken and Somnus, a new character who can make one night seem like a life time together. He used this power on Daken back in the day during a one night stand and then ended up living a long life without him even though he didn’t divulge his oneiromantic mutant abilities to everyone. However, Krakoa and its resurrection protocols are all about second chances, and Daken gives him one in this story. As well as digging deep into Daken’s emotions, Orlando and Aguirre also use this story to remind readers of queer elders, who because of society’s hate, never came out or came out later in life, and this is what makes Somnus’ second chance so special. Also, his abilities are pretty cool and bring a little Vertigo into the X-Books.
Marvel Voices Pride #1 is definitely an up and down ride. Some of the stories mishandle nonbinary and gender nonconforming identities (Also, there are no nonbinary lead characters in this anthology.) or seem to pander heavily to allies while others have issues with their art or storytelling style. (Northstar/Kyle, Wiccan/Hulkling) But, for the most part, it’s nice to see queer creators and queer characters get the spotlight for once instead of being hidden behind things like the mutant metaphor, which is usually Marvel editorial’s approach. Time will tell if we see them beyond this anthology, but most of the creators in Marvel Voices Pride work on books in Marvel’s main line or have had consistent success at other companies or even television in Allan Heinberg’s case so, at least, that’s something they have going for them.
Story: Luciano Vecchio, Allan Heinberg, Mariko Tamaki, Lilah Sturges, Leah Williams, Crystal Frasier, Kieron Gillen, Terry Blas, Anthony Oliveira, J.J. Kirby, Tini Howard, Vita Ayala, Steve Orlando Art: Luciano Vecchio, Jim Cheung, Kris Anka, Derek Charm, Jan Bazaldua, Jethro Morales, Jen Hickman, Paulina Ganucheau, Javier Garron, J.J. Kirby, Samantha Dodge, Joanna Estep with Brittney Williams, Claudia Aguirre, Jacopo Camagni Colors: Marcelo Maiolo, Tamra Bonvillain, Brittany Peer, Erick Arciniega, Rachelle Rosenberg, Kendall Goode, David Curiel Letters: Ariana Maher Story: 8.0 Art: 8.6 Overall: 8.3 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
