Fantastic Four #561: Ummm WOW! I should have seen that coming. Ties the earlier story arc in nicely and reminds us that Dr. Doom REALLY is an world class murderous asshole. Plus it was drawn by Bryan Hitch so not only is each and every panel is its own work of art, but also collectively they compose layouts that are just as classically beautiful.

Ex Machina #37: I must admit to being disappointed that Trouble ended up just being an obsessed fangirl yet amused that “Hizzoner” can’t punch out a deranged fangirl without breaking his hand. Compared to past arcs this was pretty tame - hoping its a calm before the storm.

Uncanny X-Men 504: Did Scott eject Emma from his mind after telling her “Jean taught” him how to hide his secrets from a telepath. I think she thought he was an open book, but now knows better. The real question is why is Scott hiding the fact that Madelyne Pryor is alive? And even if she is alive, since when can she raise the dead?

Kingdom Come Special: Magog One Shot: Insight into the character of Lance Corporal David Reid - who was recently killed and ressurected as Magog.

Greatest Hits #3 of 6: I’m REALLY enjoying this title, but it feels rushed. I wish this was 12 issues not 6. David Tischman’s complex storytelling draws you into the secrets and foibles of the fab four superhero team, The Mates. Glenn Fabry’s art is every bit as gorgeous as fans of his many Vertigo covers would expect.

Young X-Men #8: I’m still liking it much better than the previous stories, but a few things worry me - more on this in a spotlight post soon.

X-Factor #37: Ding Dong the witch is dead! Larry Stroman is OFF the title!!!! A little bird told me even Peter David (the writer) was unhappy with the childish scrawls that had masqueraded as artwork for the past few issues.

X-Men Legacy #218: I still don’t really care about this Daken clown. So he’s Wolverine’s kid. So what. How many clawed wolvie wanna be’s do we need? X-23 has grown on me but Mr. Extreme tattoos mohawk mullet guy, not-so-much. Miss Sinister kinda folds faster than the Flash doing Orgami.

Avengers/Invaders #6 of 12: Really not sure where this is going (especially with the LMD revolt) but I’m enjoying the ride. I wished for the return of Captain America so its partially my fault too.

Terra #2 of 4: Another short mini that is seeming rushed. Terra makes cryptic comments throughout - talkshe talks about terrans and humans, and knos about the original Tara Markov and the Time Trapper. Who is this girl? How does she have Tara’s DNA?

Supergirl #35: OK well we have an explanation for much of the weirdness that surrounded the current Kara Zor-el - Kryptonite poisoning causes hallucinations, mood swings, personality shifts and memory distortions.

Batman and Outsiders #13: Not that interested in what’s happening in Gotham not that Batman is off in cloud kookoo land with bat-Mite or wherever he went. but I do have the say that the new Vigilante is looking damned hot. More on that in with spotlight post (and maybe a hot desktop if you’re good) later…

Each year, the editors at People magazine rolls up their sleeves and set themselves to the task of choosing who is the Sexiest Man Alive (see the official SMA Cover Gallery). The choice for 2008 is non other than the X-Men’s hirsute living weapon - Wolverine… a.k.a. Hugh Jackman.

Whether he’s belting out showtunes onstage or slicing and dicing evil mutants, Jackman is a quadruple threat who can act, sing, dance and fight with claws or swords. At the age of 40, with an athletic muscular physique his wife of 12 years calls "the Body of Doom", 6ft 2in tall Hugh Jackman is now officially the sex-symbol of 2008. Move over Brad and Matt, its time for someone furrier.

Hugh Jackman can be seen in the Upcoming Australia (Nov 26, 2008) and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1, 2009)

via People

I’m not completely sure why I love this series so. If i had to hazard a guess, I think it taps into a subconscious comic book fanboy wish-fulfillment that things like September 11 just don’t happen without some great heroic force rising up to miraculously prevent it or at least mitigate damage and loss of life.

But I digress. Lets talk Ex Machina. Despite my longtime fan status of both the Marvel and DC universes, if I was to be deserted on a desert isle with every issue, past, present and future of ANY comic, I would want an endless (or at least twice as long as Harris’ 80 issue stint on Starman) run of Ex Machina with its creative team of writer Brian K. Vaughn and artist Tony Harris forever intact . I’m sorry if they have other plans, too bad - they must NEVER stop producing this series. Plus it needs to be a movie.

I once wrote an odd short story about it the effect of September 11 on a comic book fan who lived with view of the World Trade Center. If anyone is interested I may post it sometime… Who knows, I may post it even if you aren’t interested.

via CBR

Issue 126 welcomes the new Thunderbolts creative team of writer Andy Diggle (Losers, Green Arrow: Year One) and penciler Roberto De La Torre (IRON MAN: DIRECTOR OF S.H.I.E.L.D.).

The events of Secret Invasion have taken Norman Osborn out of Thunderbolts Mountain…and when the cat is away, the mice will play! Bullseye owes Songbird big time – and now it’s time to settle up! A huge upheaval is coming for the T-Bolts, and the beginning tremors are felt here!

Warren Ellis’ run was certainly a tough act to follow and the Secret Invasion tie ins weren’t much. I’m looking forward to where this title is going post Secret Invasion.

via CBR

Marvel’s X-Men continue to be on the forefront (for the comics world) of LGBT issues. Not only does the Marvel mutant concept itself speak to any minority considered “different”, but also Northstar, the first out-and-proud Marvel Superhero first appeared in the pages of the X-Men and he eventually found his way into their roster (though the writers have since killed him, resurrected him, made him evil and brought him back into the fold as a well-meaning but kinda bitchy queen). His footsteps were followed by later LGBT characters such as Karma and Anole. Jonas Graymalkin is the latest in a fine fictional gay and lesbian mutant tradition.

The recent X-Men Manifest Destiny #3 of 5 had a number of short stories, including a dark and touching origin story told by the latest addition to the X-Men’s roster - Jonas Graymalkin. At first I didn’t get that Graymalkin was talking to someone (Anole) as he narrated his history. In the 1800’s, his homophobic father caught him about to secretly rendezvous with a boyfriend, called him an “abomination” and beat him to the brink of death then buried him alive. The darkness of his grave triggered his latent mutant power which kept him alive and alone for 200 years (his power works in complete darkness, and the darkness of a grave kept him invulnerable enough to survive without food or water for that long - though I’m not sure why it took him so long to dig out is he’s superstrong in the dark too - unless he didn’t try - the boy needs a fictional therapist).

His is possibly the saddest, most disturbing origins I have read to date (and I’ve read a lot of comics). I cannot even imagine the issues someone in that position would go through, but I sincerely hope Marvel’s writers attempt to figure it out.

I’m pretty psyched to see two gay members of the Young X-Men, but oddly enough, I’m not looking for a gay romance between the characters. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for gay romances being integrated into the mainstream of comics (a la Hulkling and Wiccan). But we already have that relationship (though it NEEDS a monthly home) and I’d rather see something new.

I don’t think a realistic platonic friendship between 2 gay characters has ever been attempted. So although the “intoxicating” meal and music that Jonas shared with Anole was likely his “first date” ever, I hope the writers can do better than instant deep abiding love and be a bit more realistic. Sometimes its more important to have a friend, and after what Graymalkin has been through - he DEFINITELY needs a friend more than a lover.

In time a lover shouldn’t be a problem. The X-Men are now celebs in the San Francisco of the Marvel Universe. There would be more than a few gay boys around who could love a 200 year old sensitive yet super strong and comic book muscled gray mutant with bug eyes (I can think of ONE I know personally who would probably consider such an act if he wasn’t already so very taken… he knows who he is) I think Anole and Graymalkin would make great 4color rolemodels as gay wingmen.

I’d like to see some realistic confusion from Graymalkin - with his established backstory, I could see him falling for the first out-and-proud gay guy to tell him its OK to be who he is. But I think the story possibilities that would result from Graymalkin and Anole being best friends could do a lot more good.

Graymalkin has an as yet undiscovered link to “Cypher” (most likely the long-dead New Mutant Doug Ramsey - who was also buried on Xavier soil - but he was actually dead - though Cypher’s bond with Warlock makes anything possible.).

Here is the OTHER post I lost due to the server time warp… Check out the high res versions at CBR

via CBR

Superman: Kingdom Come Special One Shot: the first true Alex Ross created follow up story to the original epic Kingdom Come is here. Earth-22’s Superman isn’t sure where or if he belongs on the Earth he now calls home. He has a talk with Lois Kent and Norman McCay. Ross’s pencils, inks and paints are as powerful as ever and his words tell quite a story as well.

Action Comics #871: We begin to see into the minds of a few of the many new Kryptonians on Earth, including Zod’s soldiers and the new Nightwing and Flamebird. Also a dozen or so Kryptonians dogpile on Doomsday - yes you read right, Doomsday.

Captain Britain and MI-13 #7: Keeps getting better and better. Blade and Lady Farsworth start to hit it off (or at least he stopped staking her for now). Captain Britain finally has his long lost wife Meggan in his sights, or does he? All this plus the Black Knight goes berserk?

Titans #7: I wasn’t impressed with the Sins of the Father arc. This one interests me much more. We finally get some resolution on the Match/Jericho situation. I’d already figured out that it had to end with Jericho going nutzo - as it was exposed in DC Decisions that his mind retains a residue of the people he possesses - and he’s posssessed some BAD people. So I knew where it was going, yet I still enjoyed the ride more than the previous 6 issues. This issue takes a big jump up my list. I loved the artwork too.

Manhunter #36: This is a great title that was resurrected from cancellation due to fan interest - but I hear it is in trouble again. Not only is it an interesting story with an intelligent, heroic female protagonist, but it also is an unpredictably fascinating story and even has a positive somewhat realistic (for comics at least) portrayal of a loving relationship between Obsidian and his boyfriend.

Booster Gold #14: More Starro. Since when is Chronos twins? The Starro 2 parter seems like a filler story designed to establish a cryptic relationship between the female Chronos twin and Booster. But even a filler story on this title is pretty damned good.

X-Men: Magneto: Testament #3 of 5: This miniseries does an excellent job of telling the horrific story of what happened to the family of one of Marvel’s mightiest mutants - Magneto. It is a beautifully told tale unlike any other comic I’ve read. It is a testimonial to the excellence of every book higher on my list that this is so low on my list this week. It is a wonderful albeit sad book.

Green Arrow and Black Canary #14: OK, Conner Hawke’s alive, with a healing factor based from Plastic Man’s DNA, but forgot he is a pacifist and how to shoot a bow. Looks like a new heroic Identity for Green Arrow II, the name is linked to the bow.

I can only hope that the fact that this issue has a new art team (Valentine De Landro and Jonathan Sibal) means that Larry Stroman’s hideous artwork has been exorcised from the pages of X-Factor forever. FINGERS CROSSED!

via CBR

Writer, Mark Millar and Artists Bryan Hitch and Paul Neary’s built-for-the-big-screen stint on Fantastic Four comes to a head this month with the “The Galactus Engine”, the concluding chapter of their epic “Death of the Invisible Woman” arc. It’s been a roller coaster of a read and if you missed it, I’m sure it will make a must have trade paperback.

via CBR

The opening arc on this series far from wowed me. The story was awkward and implausible - not to mention gratuitously killing ANOTHER of the already severely diminished mutant populace of the Marvel U. Also having Dust abandon the good she was doing in her homeland because the weather is lovely in Westchester this time of year was insulting to Sooraya AND the reader.

That said as of the more recent issues I’m starting to get interested. Not only have they added my favorite of the old “New X-Men” - Anole, but they’ve also added another new gay mutant in the recently outed Graymalkin. Go Marvel!

via CBR

Early tabulation of the popular vote resulted in Marvel Universe’s Daily Bugle prematurely calling the fictional Presidential election in the favor of Stephen Colbert, the bear-hating purveyor of “truthiness.” They even went as far as releasing the erroneous news on the front page.

New York City, November 5, 2008—The early results are in and the Daily Bugle is reporting that Stephen Colbert has won the United States Presidency in the Marvel Universe. While many states still have yet to report their numbers, Colbert is already claiming a victory.

But Colbert loving Marvelites will be disapointed to learn that in fact Stephen Colbert was defeated due to a lack of Electoral votes, meaning Barack Obama is President of the Marvel Universe’s United States as well as in our reality. I’m really glad that Obama won there too, (Might as well make comic book history as well as real history) but if was going to be anyone else, I would have wanted Stephen Colbert in every story about the President for the next 4 years,

But at what cost? He was a wee bit crazy in the recent DCU Decisions. Seems his psyche retains some residue from those he inhabits?

I guess SOMEONE at DC figured they should FINALLY get Jericho out of Match so he can try to kill all the DCU’s Presidential political candidates in DCU Decisions. Which has been over for a few weeks, so how come Jericho is still stuck in Match?

Match, the imperfect clone of Conner Kent, shows up at the Tower looking for a fight. But the Titans’ old teammate Jericho is still trapped inside him! To subdue Match and save Jericho, the Titans must find a way to force the two apart, and their solution has unexpected consequences for them all!

via Newsarama

A new website’s recent series of “countdown” images to reveal the new Wonder Woman has been exposed as a hoax. Many movie sites ran with the news and one can see how they might be fooled. The photoshop work is impressive, all the right company logos are present and Megan Fox is one of a number of names that keep coming up in connection with the character.

A Warner Bros. rep (whose logo you see pasted to the bottom of this poster) confirmed the site and it’s contents are “complete BS.”

So Fox isn’t Wonder Woman but would she have made a good Wonder Woman? I’m inclined to believe that no; she’s too young, too skinny and too one-note as an actress to carry the film. Yet we still, as a fanboy nation have yet to come to a consensus as to who would make the best Wonder Woman on film. Please leave your suggestions below but beware, the first person to suggest Charisma Carpenter is getting smacked.

via yahoonews and joblo

KINGDOM COME co-creator Alex Ross revisits the Superman of Earth-22 in the upcoming JSA Kingdom Come Special: Superman.

Spinning out of the “One World, Under Gog” storyline, the Kingdom Come Superman’s struggle with his place in the world brings a final conflict between the Supermen of Earths 1 and 22! Feeling the weight of his own world’s loss on his shoulders, the transplanted Superman searches for answers to the mystery of his life’s seemingly cursed existence and encounters “old acquaintances” on the way. This is the first fully written and illustrated adventure by KINGDOM COME co-creator Alex Ross, building to the storyline’s conclusion in JUSTICE OF SOCIETY OF AMERICA #22!

via Newsarama

Captain Britain and MI-13 just keeps heating up…

Brian Braddock has to make his hardest decision ever, in the room that grants your heart’s desire. The power behind the Mindless Ones is revealed. Blade and Spitfire: at each other’s throats? And our heroes have to fight their way out of: Hell Comes to Birmingham, part two.

I hope Captain Britain gets his wife back.

via CBR

Enough politics for the moment - here’s the comics I read this week. I also picked up Twilight to see what all the fuss is about. I’ll let you know what I think.

Secret Six #3: The Six are up to their ears in enemies as they transport a priceless artifact made by the devil (of the DCU - Neron) himself - a “get out of Hell free” card.

Plus, how hot is Catman?!

X-Men Manifest Destiny #3 of 5: Mystique is still gunning for Iceman - or is she. Raven’s manipulations have always been Machiavellian, but I suspect she might actually be doing something to help him live up to his almost limitless potential. I’ve long suspected that Bobby is an underachieving Alpha mutant (his power level has been hinted at by a number of writers over the years, but then overlooked again and again).

The mysterious Graymalkin is the X-Men’s latest LGBT member, Then he and Anole can hookup and be a new dynamic duo known as the “Gray and the Green”

Graymalkin’s dad caught him in the barn with a boy, beat him half to death and buried him alive, where his latent mutant power kicked in leaving him alive but imprisoned for 200 years. The poor kid is gonna have some serious issues.

Justice Society of America #20: Starman’s outfit was engineered by THREE Brainiac 5’s! Looks like there’s more to Legion of 3 Worlds than Superboy Prime and the Legion of Supervillains… Can’t wait to learn more.

Avengers: The Initiative SPECIAL One Shot: Emotional roller coaster. Lets hope this is just a roadbloc on the highway of love for Hardball and Komodo. I like them together.

With Halloween and Alternative Press Expo this weekend - I didn’t have time to get my choices up until now. More on A.P.E. later…

Time to see how San Francisco’s new resident mutant superheroe team stands up to a Skrull invasion. Far tougher foes have thought they had the White Queen trapped.

Sarah Palin is in trouble, and there’s only one superhero that can save her with his power of CHANGE!

Buy the Obama underwear now only $7.49!
http://store.andrewchristian.com/cata…

via LuckyLegendary

Late summer, 1942. As the German army smashes deep into Soviet Russia and the defenders of the Motherland retreat in disarray, a new bomber squadron arrives at a Russian forward airbase. Its crews will fly flimsy wooden biplanes on lethal night missions over German lines, risking fiery death as they fling themselves against the invader- but for these pilots, the consequences of capture will be even worse. For the pilots of the 599th Night Bomber Regiment are women. In the deadly skies of the Eastern front, they will become a legend- known, to friend and foe alike, as the Night Witches.

via CBR