X-Men: Blue #17
(W) Cullen Bunn (A) R. B. Silva (CA) Arthur Adams
Rated T+
In Shops: Dec 13, 2017
SRP: $3.99
CROSS-TIME CAPERS Part 2
• Lost in time, JEAN GREY and her team of X-MEN must survive long enough to fix what is wrong with the timestream…
• …which isn’t easy with the teens stranded in the not-too-far future. If only there were a similar group of mutant heroes to help them out.
• Oh, wait! There totally is! GUEST-STARRING X-MEN 2099!
What do you get you get when you mix five time-displaced teens, a time machine and one fractured timeline? You get Jean Grey, Scott Summers, Bobby Drake, Hank McCoy, and Warren Worthington III – impromptu time cops!
Now that the crossover with the X-Men: Gold team is done and the battle with Mojo is over, we can return to the Blue team and focus on the issues that matter… time travel craziness and what Magneto is up to!
Writer Cullen Bunn gets right to it as timequake like events are occurring causing individuals to blink out of existence and it has something to do with the displaced X-Men (but the alternate dimension Wolverine and Bloodstorm are ok… and Old Man Logan… and…). This issue is a setup getting us going on the next adventure and it pulls that off really well.
The issue’s pacing and interactions of the characters are key and the issue nails all of that and does it quite well. Scott has a moment with Bloodstorm. Jean has a moment with Hank. Polaris has a cool moment with Angel and James. All of them are good and add to the overall story in some way. They’re generally slice of life type interactions and all of them play into the drama, that when mixed with action, make the X-Men comics great.
There’s definitely some things to question and aren’t explained like the revelation of who Magneto was talking to and how Mojo has set up a television network without anyone pushing back (not even the FCC!?) but they don’t completely derail the comic and will most likely be answered down the road.
The art by Thony Silas is solid. I haven’t thought this series has had the best art up to this point but there’s something here that works and works really well. There’s a good mix of dynamic sequences and poses along with more subdued moments and each are rendered in a solid way. The characters look good, the designs click, it all just looks good.
The series has had a lot of sidequests and distractions but this issue feels like it’s finally finding its way and allowing it to do its own thing. I know there’s another crossover coming down the road with Venom which seems to be the biggest issue of the series but when it’s allowed to focus on what makes it unique, it stands out from the pack. And, that last page. As a fan of a certain group that’s revealed, I can’t wait to see where it all goes from here.
Story: Cullen Bunn Art: Thony Silas Cover: Arthur Adams
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy
In the far reaches of space, the Poisons attack the Marvel Universe – but who exactly are these new enemies, and what destruction are they planning to unleash on Earth? This is just the beginning of Poisons diabolical plot to overthrow the Marvel Universe…and it requires an unexpected team-up! This January, the Children of the Atom will join forces with Eddie Brock for a 6-part crossover that begins in X-Men Blue Annual #1!
First seen in Venomverse, the Poisons pose a threat that can only be stopped by the X-Men – and Venom. When the X-Men drag Venom into space for help, it turns out that they’re going to need to save the universe from something a little scarier than their own troubles, and Eddie Brock and his faithful Symbiote might be the only thing that can help stop it!
Don’t miss the crossover everyone will be talking about – Poison X starts this January!
X-Men Blue Annual #1 is written by Cullen Bunn with art by Edgar Salzar and cover by Nick Bradshaw.
X-Men: Blue #12
(W) Cullen Bunn (A) Douglas Franchin (CA) Arthur Adams
In Shops: Sep 27, 2017
SRP: $3.99
…NOW YOU DON’T!
• While HANK continues to struggle with his newfound magical skill, JIMMY HUDSON struggles with a challenge all his own…
• Will Jimmy be able to regain his memory with the help of his new friends?
• And will he like what he finds if he does?
X-Men: Blue #11
(W) Cullen Bunn (A) Douglas Franchin (CA) Arthur Adams
Rated T+
In Shops: Sep 13, 2017
SRP: $3.99
NOW YOU SEE BEAST…
• HENRY McCOY is known for a lot of things–his persona as the X-Men BEAST, his massive intellect…and now a penchant for MAGIC.
• But where did Hank learn this new-found skill?
• And will his teammates still want him around once the secret is out in the open?
When Beast’s meddling with magic catches up to him, what nightmares will the X-Men be forced to deal with? There is a cost to hexes and spells, and Hank McCoy is about to pay it. Will Cyclops, Iceman, Angel, and Marvel Girl be able to save their teammate from himself?
Now that the tie-ins are done, X-Men: Blue is able to go back and focus on its own storylines that makes it stand on its own in the X line of comics. In X-Men: Blue #10, writer Cullen Bunn picks up where things left off while at the same time incorporating some of the new layers added in the recent Secret Empire tie-ins.
This issue is a transition one lining things up for what’s to come taking time to sort out the various threads like the return of Danger and Polaris, Jean and Scott’s new psy-link, Jimmie Howlett’s return, and most importantly focusing on Hank’s use of magic. That last part is the big plot point of the issue continuing a story that has been stretched out for quite some time. It’s in this issue that Hank really pays the price for his use of magic and we get a better sense of why he’s doing it. It’s interesting growth and a new direction for a character who feels like he’s been stuck in a rut for quite some time.
Still, should Doctor Strange or some other “magical” superhero have picked up on this by now and really stepped in?
The art by Giovanni Valletta feels improved from the last couple of issues but the series still doesn’t quite have the knock-out art we see in other series. It’s not bad… it just doesn’t quite feel like that is the main draw here. It’s good and does the job.
Bunn does a good job with creating a transition issue that picks up the pieces and moves things forward as to what’s coming next and he gets to that conflict in the same issue. That pacing is solid and a lot is packed into the 22 pages. Bunn also gives this series a personality of its own that helps set it apart really well from its fellow X comic series. Still, the art doesn’t quite click making the series good, not great. Still, we’re getting something different and with that some entertaining stories.
Story: Cullen Bunn Art: Giovanni Valletta Cover Art: Arthur Adams
Story: 8.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
X-Men: Blue #10
(W) Cullen Bunn (A) Giovanni Valletta (CA) Arthur Adams
Rated T+
In Shops: Aug 30, 2017
SRP: $3.99
NOW, WATCH AS I PULL A BEAST OUT OF MY HAT!
• When BEAST’s meddling with magic catches up to him, what nightmares will the X-MEN be forced to deal with?
• There is a cost to hexes and spells, and HANK McCOY is about to pay it.
• Will CYCLOPS, ICEMAN, ANGEL and MARVEL GIRL be able to save their teammate from himself?
X-MEN: BLUE #9
CULLEN BUNN (W) • CORY SMITH (A)
Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS
SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$3.99
X-Men: Blue #8
(W) Cullen Bunn (A) Cory Smith (CA) Arthur Adams
Rated T+
In Shops: Jul 26, 2017
SRP: $3.99
SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!
• EMMA FROST!
• She’s back…and badder than ever.
X-Men: Blue #7
(W) Cullen Bunn (A) Cory Smith (CA) Arthur Adams
Rated T+
In Shops: Jul 12, 2017
SRP: $3.99
SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN!
• How will our intrepid heroes react to this new world order?
• Will MARVEL GIRL, CYCLOPS, ANGEL, ICEMAN and BEAST be overwhelmed by HYDRA?
• I really hope not!
