Tag Archives: michael sta. maria

Exclusive Preview: Inglorious X-Force #6

Inglorious X-Force #6

(W) Tim Seeley (A) Michael Sta. Maria
(C) Romulo Fajardo Jr. (L) Joe Caramagna
(CA) R. B. Silva and David Curiel (VCA) ACO, Gerardo Sandoval and Erick Arciniega, Luciano Vecchio, Bjorn Barends

THE MUTANT LIBERATION FRONT! CABLE, ARCHANGEL, MS. MARVEL, BOOM-BOOM and HELLVERINE bring the fight to the MUTANT LIBERATION FRONT. The new face of the MLF is KALI… but it’s their deep-seated plans that will put X-FORCE on the back foot!

Inglorious X-Force #6

Preview: Flash Gordon Quarterly Vol. 2

Flash Gordon Quarterly Vol. 2

(W) Marc Andreyko, Kelly Williams, Amy Chase, David Hazan, Frank Tieri, Jadzia Axelrod, Keith Davidsen, Sarah Cooke (A) Kelly Williams, Igor Lima, Manuel Garcia, Leo Chiola, Carola Borelli, Michael Sta. Maria, Richard Samuel West, Tango

Flash Gordon Quarterly is an anthology series featuring fresh takes on the world of Flash Gordon and his supporting cast.

Superstar creators blast off to explore Flash Gordon’s legacy! The star-studded anthology series continues with brand-new stories from new and established creators! Frank Tieri and Michael Sta Maria bring back the classics with a lost tale of Flash and the “Attack of the Shark Men”! Mad Cave Studios 2019 Talent Search winner David Hazan (Nottingham) pairs with legacy artist Manuel Garcia for a moving — and exhilarating — exploration of Hans Zarkov’s Jewish heritage. Plus, Marc Andreyko and Igor Lima continue their Lovecraftian horror version of Flash Gordon — no longer a spacefaring hero, but the son of a writer who predicted the world’s doom — in their feature story finale to “The Madness of M’nnnngh”! This and other “Flash Fiction” stories — wholly original takes on classic Flash Gordon characters in new genres and settings — await you. There’s a Flash for everyone!

Flash Gordon Quarterly Vol. 2

Preview: Inglorious X-Force #3

Inglorious X-Force #3

(W) Tim Seeley (A) Michael Sta. Maria

BOOM-BOOM BOMBSHELL! BOOM-BOOM is one of CABLE’S most trusted allies… or is she? A mission into a secret safe house reveals a startling seed of doubt… but can X-FORCE close in on their killer… before their own assassin catches up with them?

Inglorious X-Force #3

Inglorious X-Force #2 allows the personalities of the team to shine as it builds upon its mystery

Inglorious X-Force #2

HELL TO PAY… HELLVERINE must face demonic temptation…and it’s all part of CABLE’S secret agenda! PLUS: Meet the HIDDEN AGENT who’s been STALKING X-Force from the shadows. The mysteries deepen, and the action amplifies as the true mission comes into focus… Inglorious X-Force #2 drops the team into another battle but there’s more going on than just another mission.

X-Force has a special place in my heart when it comes to the X-Men. I remember getting that first issue with excitement and reading the series’ initial run for quite some time. I was young, and it all seemed exciting building off of the New Mutants. There’s been numerous teams over the years, with some takes really entertaining and some not so much. Tim Seeley is in the driver seat here as the writer for what has been an intriguing series so far.

Inglorious X-Force #2 has the team together and another mission they have to undertake. What’s interesting so far about Seeley’s take isn’t the mystery of who the next traitor is, that’s been done before, but the focus on each character and what makes them work.

With an initial sequence of Boom Boom commenting on a video from the new MLF and a fight between Arhcangel and Hellverine, we get the sense this is a team that’s full of personality and attitude, much of which is going to clash and create excitement. But Seeley give us a bit more. Through their mission involving a cult, we get to see the focus on just a handful of characters. By the end of the issue, it’s clear what Cable is doing in assessing each member and figuring out who he can trust, but also what really makes them heroes. Ms. Marvel being the outlier of the group creates an interesting dynamic of a bunch of killers and the one person who sticks to their principles, something Cable seems to appreciate. It’s small details like this that make the comic stand out. Add in something more going on, for instance what Domino is doing, and the series has a lot of moving parts that’ll leave readers guessing.

The art by Michael Sta. Maria is good. With color by Romulo Fajardo Jr. and lettering by Joe Caramagna the comic is an interesting one with the usual big guns, pouches, and mutant powers, but going up against what is an undead horde. There’s something visually that makes it all interesting and feels like something a bit different than the usual battles.

Inglorious X-Force #2 has a lot going on for it with what feels like a few mysteries going on at once. Add in some intriguing personalities and dynamics within the team, mixed in with some fun dialogue, and you have a comic that feels like earlier years of X-Force. It hits the nostalgia while also delivering something a little different.

Story: Tim Seeley Art: Michael Sta. Maria
Color: Romulo Fajardo Jr. Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 8.25 Art: 7.75 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review


Purchase: Zeus ComicsKindle

Preview: Inglorious X-Force #2

Inglorious X-Force #2

(W) Tim Seeley (A) Michael Sta. Maria

HELL TO PAY… HELLVERINE must face demonic temptation… and it’s all part of CABLE’S secret agenda! PLUS: Meet the HIDDEN AGENT who’s been STALKING X-Force from the shadows. The mysteries deepen, and the action amplifies as the true mission comes into focus…

Inglorious X-Force #2

May’s X-Titles Brings Storm’s Daughter, the Mystery of Inmate X Deepens, and the end to Shadows of Tomorrow!

Shadows of Tomorrow,” a new era of X-Men storytelling, is now officially underway with exciting new arcs of X-MEN, UNCANNY X-MEN and WOLVERINE, new ongoing launches like GENERATION X-23, INGLORIOUS X-FORCE, WADE WILSON: DEADPOOL, and X-MEN UNITED, and exciting limited series like CYCLOPS, MAGIK & COLOSSUS, MOONSTAR, ROGUE, and STORM: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST MUTANT. Fans can glimpse ahead at what comes next as the “Shadows of Tomorrow” era comes to an end and the road to the next mutant milestone begins with the reveal of issues coming in May.

Read on to learn more!

CYCLOPS #4 (OF 5)

Written by ALEX PAKNADEL
Art by ROGÊ ANTÔNIO
Cover by FEDERICO VICENTINI
On Sale 5/6

AN EYE FOR AN EYE!

When Cyclops loses Mei to Pierce, he captures one of his prized Reavers as revenge! How will Cyclops use his new hostage to his advantage? And will Mei escape the clutches of Pierce’s Reaver army?!

CYCLOPS #4 (OF 5)

GENERATION X-23 #4

Written by JODY HOUSER
Art by MARCO RENNA
Cover by PARTHA PRATIM SARKAR
On Sale 5/27

X-23 ON THE HUNT!

Laura Kinney is through playing nice. The Facility has her friends, and they have her sister. And not a damn thing on Earth will stand between her and their safety. They want “X-23, the perfect killer”? Oh, they’ve got it! SNIKT!

GENERATION X-23 #4

INGLORIOUS X-FORCE #5

Written by TIM SEELEY
Art by PHILIP TAN & MICHAEL STA. MARIA
Cover by R.B. SILVA
On Sale 5/20

THE HORSEMAN OF DEATH!

Cable has cleared one X-Force member of murder and suspects another. But when a fight against the Nasty Boys goes south, the truth stands revealed – and it may just put X-Force six feet under!

INGLORIOUS X-FORCE #5

MAGIK & COLOSSUS #4 (OF 5)

Written by ASHLEY ALLEN
Art by GERMÁN PERALTA
Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
On Sale 5/13

A SIBLING RIVALRY!

Magik and Colossus meet the great witch Baba Yaga, and she is not happy to see them! With their relationship out of step, will the Rasputins be able to hold her off? Or will Baba Yaga damage the siblings’ future beyond repair?

MAGIK & COLOSSUS #4 (OF 5)

MOONSTAR #3 (OF 5)

Written by ASHLEY ALLEN
Art by EDOARDO AUDINO
Cover by GERMÁN PERALTA
On Sale 5/20

TRAPPED IN MEMORIES!

The cursed sword Dáinsleif plans to take every bit of Moonstar, from heart to soul. As the sentient sword combs through Dani’s memories, what secrets will it unlock? And will Dani wake up before it’s too late?!

MOONSTAR #3 (OF 5)

ROGUE #5 (OF 5)

Written by ERICA SCHULTZ
Art by LUIGI ZAGARIA
Cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA
On Sale 5/20

FORGIVEN, BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN

Now that Rogue knows the truth about her past, will she ever be forgiven for the pain she caused? Could she ever forgive herself?

ROGUE #5 (OF 5)

STORM: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST MUTANT #4 (OF 5)

Written by MUREWA AYODELE
Art by FEDERICA MANCIN
Cover by R.B. SILVA
On Sale 5/6

FURAHA, STORM’S DAUGHTER, ARRIVES!

STORM: EARTH’S MIGHTIEST MUTANT #4 (OF 5)

UNCANNY X-MEN #28

Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art and Cover by LUCIANO VECCHIO
On Sale 5/13

INMATE X REVEALED!

Our wildest UNCANNY story yet continues! A mysterious turn of events brings the New Mutants to the Uncanny X-Men, and the Outliers are nowhere to be found! All this plus the secret of Graymalkin Prison’s INMATE X revealed at last! Who is this incredibly lethal mutant powerhouse, and what does it mean for mutantkind?

UNCANNY X-MEN #28

WADE WILSON: DEADPOOL #4

Written by BENJAMIN PERCY
Art and Cover by GEOFF SHAW
On Sale 5/6

MOB LIFE!

The gangster Hammerhead has cottoned on to Deadpool’s secret. But Wade can’t be bought… No wait, that’s not right. Wade can totally be bought. That’s his whole deal as a mercenary… OH, Hammerhead has the ’Pool by the floats, that’s what it is, and whatever choice he makes, someone close to him will wind up DEAD!

WADE WILSON: DEADPOOL #4

WOLVERINE #20

Written by SALADIN AHMED
Art by MARTÍN CÓCCOLO
Cover by DAN PANOSIAN
On Sale 5/13

SAVAGE CHAMPION!

The shocking events of last issue culminate in a showdown over a century in the making. Who or what are the SAVAGE CHAMPIONS? Sharpen your claws for the fight of WOLVERINE’s life…and a twist that’ll have ramifications for Wolverine books going forward!

WOLVERINE #20

X-MEN #29

Written by JED MACKAY
Art and Cover by NETHO DIAZ
On Sale 5/6

DANGER ROOM: PART FOUR!

Rest in peace, X-Men! The Danger Room’s victory seems all but assured with the X-Men scattered, broken and beaten. But the X-Men have been thought dead and buried before…and always have they risen from the graves their enemies put them in.

X-MEN #29

X-MEN #30

Written by JED MACKAY
Art and Cover by NETHO DIAZ
On Sale 5/27

DANGER ROOM: PART FIVE!

The X-Men have weathered everything the Danger Room has thrown at them – and now it’s time to turn the tables. To me, my X-Men.

X-MEN #30

X-MEN UNITED #3

Written by EVE L. EWING
Art by TIAGO PALMA
Cover by STEFANO CASELLI
On Sale 5/20

Since a field squad of Melee, Jitter and Laura Kinney accompanied Captain America on a covert mission to right a wrong from his past, nothing has gone as planned, and the squad meets their match with a mutant foe who might not ever let them get home. Meanwhile, a shadow descends over Graymatter Lane… And the Beast and Magneto have an explosive difference of opinion!

X-MEN UNITED #3

X-MEN OF APOCALYPSE OMEGA #1

Written by JEPH LOEB
Art and Cover by SIMONE DI MEO
On Sale 5/6

SECRETS REVEALED!  BETRAYALS. DEATHS. AND A SHOCK ENDING THAT WILL HAVE X-MEN FANS TALKING FOR YEARS!

X-MEN OF APOCALYPSE OMEGA #1

Inglorious X-Force #1 Shows Off Some Potential But Feels Familiar

Inglorious X-Force #1

INGLORIOUS VENGEANCE! Cable returns from the future with a handful of clues…and gaping holes in his memory. An assassination is at hand, and it’s up to Hellverine, Archangel and his former teammate Boom-Boom to follow Cable’s lead into the fire. But who are they after, and what secret does Cable’s faulty memory hide? Be here for the ground floor of the mystery and strap in for the most extreme thrill ride in X-dom, as an all-new X-Force blazes into battle! Inglorious X-Force #1 is an entertaining start but overall feels a bit like a retread of a concept.

Written by Tim Seeley, Inglorious X-Force #1 dives into its mystery. We’re taken to a future where the first mutant President has been assassinated. By whom? Why? That’s what Cable is now trying to figure out and prevent it from happening. So, he pulls together a team, an interesting mix of Hellverine, Archangel, and Boom-Boom. Some have history with Cable, some have history with X-Force and no Cable, and one is a completely new member to the team. It’s an interesting combination of personalities, some show potential as really entertaining in just this one issue. But, the mission is one that is all too familiar.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. A team member might be a traitor and an assassin… Sound familiar? It was the plot of Uncanny X-Men for quite some years and tension between Bishop and Gambit. Here, one of Cable’s recruits might be the assassin. Or, maybe it’s a complete misunderstanding of the clue Cable left himself? That’s the underlying story of this series as Cable and his team take on a new Mutant Liberation Front.

Seeley does deliver some interesting new wrinkles, like who the first mutant President is, and it has potential to make things interesting in a lot of ways. But, the comic feels a bit retro/classic in some ways with a pacing and plot that feel like something we’ve seen before, something familiar.

The art by Michael Sta. Maria is good. With color by Romulo Fajardo Jr. and lettering by Joe Caramagna, the team delivers interesting visuals, especially in the beginning while Cable is struggling with his time displacement. The comic also does a solid job visually and stripping Cable of all of his toys. While it’s part of the plot, the art really nails down how worn and unused things are, how out of date they are, and in some ways, how archaic. It feels like Cable relying on his last generation toys instead of having the newest physics defying gun. You can see and feel the grime as he sifts through getting prepared.

Inglorious X-Force #1 is a fun start and it has potential but it also is something we’ve generally seen before. It doesn’t break a lot of new ground and instead plays it rather safe in some ways. But, the comic is entertaining and there’s something comforting about this take. If you’re a fan of X-Force with Cable as its leader, this is one you’ll want to check out.

Story: Tim Seeley Art: Michael Sta. Maria
Color: Romulo Fajardo Jr. Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review


Purchase: Zeus ComicsKindle

Preview: Inglorious X-Force #1

Inglorious X-Force #1

(W) Tim Seeley (A) Michael Sta. Maria

INGLORIOUS VENGEANCE! CABLE returns from the future with a handful of clues… and gaping holes in his memory. An assassination is at hand, and it’s up to HELLVERINE, ARCHANGEL and his former teammate BOOM-BOOM to follow Cable’s lead into the fire. But who are they after, and what secret does Cable’s faulty memory hide?

Be here for the ground floor of the mystery and strap in for the most extreme thrill ride in X- dom , as an all-new X-FORCE blazes into battle!

Inglorious X-Force #1
« Older Entries