Tag Archives: Michael Bartolo

X-Men Wedding Special #1 Serves as a Great Wedding Story but Not a Strong Marvel Pride Issue

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X-Men Wedding Special

Mystique and Destiny, one of the oldest gay couples in Marvel comics, decide to renew their vows in X-Men Wedding Special #1 by an ensemble of various creatives. Serving as this year’s Marvel’s Voices Pride, read about the wedding of the millennium with one of the comics’ most significant relationships, Betsy and Rachel, facing a dangerous threat by an old foe, a group of young mutants trying to find the perfect wedding gift and more. Although it works better to celebrate Irene’s and Raven’s relationship, X-Men Wedding Special #1 feels like a weaker substitute for the Marvel Voices Pride specials from the past years.

The best aspect lies in the overarching story “Something Borrowed, Something Blue” by Kieron Gillen, Rachael Stott, and Michael Bartolo, which focuses on the wedding of Irene and Raven as the pair have a secret scheme that the guests and their kids Rogue and Nightcrawler do not know about. Aside from the historical nature of the wedding, it also serves as a capstone for Gillen’s work with the pair during the Krakoan era. I enjoy how Gillen characterizes the chaotic and villainous sapphic couple whose love is immortal. Stott’s beautiful art, paired with Bartolo’s colors, conveyed the majestic and gorgeous nature of the wedding. The other stories by Tini Howard, Phillip Sevy, KJ Díaz, Wyatt Kennedy, Jenn St-Onge, Brittany Peer, and more are primarily good but range in quality. 

Outside of the original stories, the issue includes a history of Irene’s and Raven’s relationship, an interview with Chris Claremont, and reprints of two LGBTQ+ X-Men-focused Marvel issues. X-Men Wedding Special #1 does not justify its price tag, even with the included supplementary materials. Granted, it is a super-sized issue, but I wish the special contained more original materials and a more substantial publishing and presentation for the physical printed issue. Considering how last year’s Pride special included more stories, interviews, and other elements, X-Men Wedding Special #1 feels less impressive and a step down in quality and execution. 

Lastly, X-Men Wedding Special #1 serves as this year’s Marvel’s Voices Pride, which does not showcase a large variety of LGBTQ+ representation. By solely focusing on Irene, Raven, and some of the X-Men exclusively, it cuts out the other LGBTQ+ mutant and non-mutant characters teased on the variant covers. Similarly, what should be a meaningful celebration for two beloved queer characters becomes saddled with being the big LGBTQ+ special by Marvel comics. This decision cuts out queer and trans-non-mutant characters, along with not highlighting other spaces of the universe. The representation is more limited and does not portray the breadth of queer and trans characters in the comics. As a result, if Marvel released a 2024 issue of Marvel’s Voices Pride in addition to X-Men Wedding Special #1, my opinions would be more favorable due to the latter not being the sole major queer tentpole special for the year. Outside of being the monumental wedding issue of Irene and Raven, it is also their yearly Pride issue, which comes across as more corporate synergy than a stand-alone celebration.

Overall, X-Men Wedding Special #1 bolsters a talented team of creatives who celebrate a wedding centuries in the making, which conflicts with being 2024’s Marvel’s Voices Pride. I loved the wedding aspect, but I wish it had more stories and materials representing more queer and trans characters outside of solely X-Men ones. With Irene and Raven having Marvel’s first sapphic wedding, its memorability and impact get slightly lessened with the other aspects the issue needs to juggle. As a result, X-Men Wedding Special #1 cannot solely be about their wedding but also has to carry the weight of being this year’s Marvel’s Voices Pride. I prefer if this served as a stand-alone special issue along with having a Marvel’s Voices Pride 2024 issue. X-Men Wedding Special #1 celebrates the immortal love of Irene and Raven while struggling to showcase the diverse LGBTQ+ community in Marvel comics.

Story: Kieron Gillen, Tini Howard, Tate Brombal, Yoon Ha Lee, Wyatt Kennedy
Art: Rachael Stott, Phillip Sevy, Emilio Pilliu, Stephen Byrne, Jenn St-Onge
Color: Michael Bartolo, KJ Diaz, Irma Kniivila, Brittany Peer
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Story: 7.2 Art: 8.3 Overall: 7.3 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Crowdfunding Corner: Seven Dead Stars: A Universe Begins

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Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing.

Grammy-nominated artists and producers, Unsecret and DJ Form, are back on the comics scene with an exciting new Kickstarter campaign, Seven Dead Stars: A Universe Begins! 

This exciting dual release of the space adventure series includes two foundational comics: Issue #0, the 24-page origin story, including a variant edition by Butcher Billy, and an official 34-page guidebook overview of the characters and storyline.

Seven Dead Stars features a star-studded roster of creators, with art by Cliff Richards, colors by Michael Bartolo, and letters and layout by Kathryn Renta.

FORM, who is one of the last humans in the galaxy, and UNSECRET, a helmeted mercenary who doesn’t remember who he truly is, make their living as GRID RUNNERS, smuggling energy from the Seven Dead Stars for alien communities living off the grid.

After a disastrous encounter with the Scorpio Regime, Form and Unsecret embark upon an unexpected adventure when they crash land on a strange planet. What they encounter there will change their lives—and the universe—forever!

The campaign for Seven Dead Stars: A Universe Begins, ends April 5.

Ninja Kaidan by Eric Palicki and Lucas Meyer is coming from BlackBox Comics

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After bursting onto the comics scene in 2017, BlackBox Comics have continued to deliver exciting new creators and content on a monthly basis. Now, to coincide with their fifth anniversary, BlackBox is taking the next step in their evolution with the launch of a brand new ongoing series as they join Diamond Comics’ FOC (Final Order Cutoff) program.

Debuting in July, Ninja Kaidan, brings together the creative team of writer Eric Palicki, artist Lucas Meyer, colorist Michael Bartolo and letterer Dezi Sienty – under the watchful eye of BlackBox editor, publisher and creator, Dimitrios Zaharakis – to tell the story of Yuki Snow, an unlikely ninja who faces an even unlikelier foe… GHOSTS.

Not even a lifetime of martial arts training and years of military service can prepare Yuki for his latest, and perhaps greatest, challenge when he inherits Yokai Consolidated, his estranged father’s company. Yuki quickly becomes fascinated by his father’s pet project, the miraculous Kaidan armor, which allows its wearer to see, hear, and even touch ghosts! As he struggles to unravel the mystery of the armor and its purpose, Yuki finds himself facing foes, living and dead, who will stop at nothing to take it for themselves. 

Ninja Kaidan is in May PREVIEWS, and the first issue arrives in store with three covers, including a variant drawn by industry legend Ron Frenz. Retailers can adjust and add to their initial orders when the title goes on FOC ahead of its July release.

  • Ninja Kaidan #1 Cover A Lucas Meyer [MAY221292]
  • Ninja Kaidan #1 Cover B Ron Frenz [MAY221293]
  • Ninja Kaidan #1 Cover C Tiago da Silva [MAY221294]

Preview: Seven Dead Stars #0

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Seven Dead Stars #0

Story: Unsecret, DJ Form
Art: Cliff Richards
Color: Michael Bartolo
Letterer/Layouts: Kathryn S. Renta

In the prelude to the ongoing Seven Dead Stars saga, offbeat heroes Unsecret and Form crash land on a mysterious planet where things aren’t always as they seem. Although the natives appear friendly, there are clues that suggest something more sinister might be at play. As the tension builds, their only true friend is a curious blue dog harboring secrets of his own. What they discover along the way will not only alter the course of their lives, but the future of the entire universe.

Inspired to combine orchestral scores with hip-hop beats, the Seven Dead Stars music universe launches with the one-off single “Deep Space” which is now available for streaming! It will be followed by three songs from the upcoming “EP Zero”, the accompanying soundtrack by Unsecret and DJ Form, mixed by renowned blockbuster film score producer Greg Townley. Look for “Keep Running” on  Aug. 20, “Next Level” on Aug. 27, and “Set It Off” on Sept. 3. With vocal samples by Wes Writer, horns by Keith Everett Smith, and strings by Chris Carmichael, Seven Dead Stars is a multimedia juggernaut aimed to conquer the universe! 

Seven Dead Stars #0

Preview: Seven Dead Stars #0

Posted on by

Seven Dead Stars #0

Story: Unsecret, DJ Form
Art: Cliff Richards
Color: Michael Bartolo
Letterer/Layouts: Kathryn S. Renta

In the prelude to the ongoing Seven Dead Stars saga, offbeat heroes Unsecret and Form crash land on a mysterious planet where things aren’t always as they seem. Although the natives appear friendly, there are clues that suggest something more sinister might be at play. As the tension builds, their only true friend is a curious blue dog harboring secrets of his own. What they discover along the way will not only alter the course of their lives, but the future of the entire universe.

Inspired to combine orchestral scores with hip-hop beats, the Seven Dead Stars music universe launches with the one-off single “Deep Space” which is now available for streaming! It will be followed by three songs from the upcoming “EP Zero”, the accompanying soundtrack by Unsecret and DJ Form, mixed by renowned blockbuster film score producer Greg Townley. Look for “Keep Running” on  Aug. 20, “Next Level” on Aug. 27, and “Set It Off” on Sept. 3. With vocal samples by Wes Writer, horns by Keith Everett Smith, and strings by Chris Carmichael, Seven Dead Stars is a multimedia juggernaut aimed to conquer the universe! 

Seven Dead Stars #0

Review: Wonder Woman ’77 Meets the Bionic Woman #1

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wonderwoman77coverEven though Andy Mangels’ plot is needlessly convoluted at times introducing supporting characters from the TV shows slapdash without giving new fans a feel for them, and Judit Tondora’s art lacks heft during scenes that should be iconic like Wonder Woman transforming, their love for these classic 70s TV shows shines through in Wonder Woman ’77 Meets the Bionic Woman #1. They should also be commended for making Diana and Jaime almost instant friends and allies instead fo wasting the first issue on pointless squabbles as they smile after catching a giant boulder together while protecting ordinary citizens from an explosion. After a fun cold open, the first issue goes all out Cold War with various alphabet soup espionage organizations, including Bionic Woman‘s OSI, trying to catch saboteurs and get to the bottom of a deeply rooted conspiracy.

Mangels has great ideas for action scenes in Wonder Woman ’77/Bionic Woman #1, and the ones that hit home are the ones with smaller panels showing the individual moves from Wonder Woman, Bionic Woman, and others. There is a simple beauty to these women using their extraordinary abilities to protect those weaker than them in spite of the sexism of their colleagues. (Jaime deduces the almost obvious fact that Diana Prince is Wonder Woman even though this puzzles the rest of the mostly male operatives.) Then, toward the last third of the comic, Mangels introduces a whole slew of supporting characters from both  using a big portion of the remaining pages to show them in action instead of furthering Diana and Jaime’s arcs even killing a character for a cheap bit of drama. It’s nice that he does justice to both the worlds of Bionic Woman and Wonder wonderwoman77interiorWoman, but what could be a strong superhero/spy period piece gets lost in the shuffle. Hopefully, later issues of the miniseries either streamline the plot or spend time showing Diana and Jaime’s connections to their supporting players. The latter could be very rewarding.

The colors from Michael Bartolo and Stuart Chaifetz stay baseline until Bionic Woman or Wonder Woman use their special abilities, and the page changes from a mundane 70s TV show to something imaginative. Of course, there’s plenty of red, white, and blue when Wonder Woman is catching rocks, blocking bullets with her bracelets, and generaly kicking butt. But the coolest bit of color is when Bionic Woman uses her highly underrated super hearing ability from her bionic implant, which is a shade of light blue like a dolphin using echolocation. The colors mixed with Tondora’s drawings of explosions gives that classic 70s or 80s TV show feel of “We used the whole special effects budget on that one sequence.” But since this is comics, there are several such sequences.

At its best, Wonder Woman ’77/Bionic Woman #1 is quick hitting, empowering fun with a retro twist as Diana and Jaime fight Cold War era bad guys. At its worst, there is occasionally no room to breathe in the story as Mangels and Tondora cram in plot beat after plot beat and extra character after character. For example, the first transformation sequence from Diana to Wonder Woman is only about a quarter of a page and falls short of the iconic moment in the show and even a recent homage to it in Supergirl. But the sound effects and active backgrounds keep the story’s momentum going and make Wonder Woman ’77/Bionic Woman #1 a slightly above average read.

Story: Andy Mangels Art: Judit Tondora Colors: Michael Bartolo, Stuart Chaifetz
Story: 7.5 Art: 7 Overall: 7.3 Verdict: Read

Dynamite Entertainment provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review