Yay! A New Post

Since I haven't done this in awhile, I thought today I'd lay out a couple of things I would do if I was Editor In Chief of Marvel. The first would be that when they show a crowd scene at a nightclub or bar or whatever, somewhere in the background there would be a Madrox dupe. I think this would be a fun idea and a neat little Where's Waldo type gag running through all the Marvel books.
Next I would create a Marvel Team-Up book that each month would focus on a completely different team (I've already listed some of my favorite ideas for one in previous posts) and finally, I would have a series devoted to the misadventures of Wolfsbane and Husk. I really think this would make for an awesome series especially considering both gals' connection to Cannonball.
Oh, something that I would do if I ever got to write a Spider-Man book, every couple of issues I would tease that the next book would be the one where Spidey gets married.

If you don't wanna take risks get out of comics and play Black Jack

Since, I'm not really using it for anything at the moment. I thought it would be fun to apply my business degree to the woes of the comic book industry and I think it's fairly obvious to all of us comic book fans why the industry is facing contraction when with all the movies and what not they put out you would think that they would be gaining fans instead of slowly losing them. One of the big problems for the Big Two I feel is that they are part of huge companies and like most large companies they are risk adverse and the fact is being risk adverse well seeming like a good way to go, but when it comes to entertainment companies that is the exact opposite of good business. Which seems to be one of the reasons most of the various entertainment industries especially; the movie, television (or at least network television) and comic industries are facing similar contractions mainly because they don't seem to be willing to take as big of risks nowadays as they did in the past after all if you aren't throwing out new ideas to see what sticks how will you the next big thing?
I think the other major problem for comics was when that switched to the direct market only model. Once they got themselves off of the newsstands and into selling only through comic book shops I feel it signaled to the rest of the world that comics are only for a niche audience and made it harder for those how may not of thought about it, to not try out comic books. I don't think I would have gotten into comics if it was not for the spinner rack at the grocery store, since that was were I got all my comics up until I was around 12 or so. Now, I don't want to seem like I'm bashing comic books stores, after all I love my LCS. However, I also see we that being the only place to get comics as one of the reasons for the shrinking comic book market, when you do think this would be a great time of comic books building their market with all of the successful movies and games like Arkham Asylum (which even the folks I know that aren't into comics love that game) it just seems like this industry I love is relenting when they could (if they were willing to take some real risks) really do something awesome with the opportunities they currently have and, I think it would be a real shame if this industry went the way of the buggy whip industry simply because they are to risk adverse. At least that's how I see it at any rate.

He's a Lobster... With a mission

Lately, I decided to read the Fallen Angels comics I picked up at last years Comic Fest (2010) and I actually enjoyed it quite a lot. Not, because it's a great comic because it's actually pretty bad, but more because of the Nacho levels of cheese in the book. For those of you that aren't in the know, Fallen Angels is a miniseries from 1986 that follows Roberto DeCosta(Sunspot) after he injures Sam Gutherie(Cannonball) while the New Mutants play a soccer match. Sunspot runs away and Warlock follows, with them missing Magneto calls Moira to help him run the Xavier School For Gifted Youngsters and she brings Siryn and Madrox (whom volunteer to go into New York City to find Roberto).

While in the city Roberto attempts to rescue a girl named Chance he sees being accosted by some street toughs. We are then introduced to Chance's friend Ariel (who has an ability similar to Gateway's powers) and of course, the character(s) besides Devil Dinosaur that gives this series its cheesy goodness, is Gomi(which apparently means garbage in Japanese)and his mutant cyborg lobster friends Bill and Don. As I may have mentioned on here one of the things I love about comics is the ludicrousness that can only work in this medium and Gomi, Bill and, Don are a perfect example of this.

Gomi is a teenage cyborg whose cousin (literally) filled his head with cybernetic components in the hopes of recreating Marvel Girl's (Jean Grey) powers because he and his partner in crime had a huge crush on her and hoped they could make a fortune selling the cybernetic implants to the public. However then run out of money and the implants don't quite work as they should. The pair of would-be mad scientists decide their plan is a bust they decide to eat the lobsters and possibly Gomi as well. Luckily, Gomi and the lobsters are able to escape and and meet up with Ariel, Chance and their fearless(lmfao) leader The Vanisher, whom vanishes whenever there is trouble or a fight and has named their group of pickpockets the Fallen Angels.

Because, of Warlock and Sunspot saving her Chance asks them to join their team they do and after they find them Siryn and Madrox decide to join the team because why the hell not. It's not like they are starring in any comics at this time. Then Ariel and Chance decide they should rescue their former teammate Boom-Boom (Tabitha Smith) from those mutant hunters X-Factor (back when it was the original 5 X-Men). This works out for Tabitha since Beast and Iceman are kinda pissed that has just made a table with one of Beast's experiments on it explode, using her little time bomby things. Then a trip to the planet or dimension or whatever Moon Boy and Devil Dinosaur live in and the team is complete. Consisting of Sunspot, Warlock, Madrox, Siryn, Boom-Boom, Moon Boy, Devil Dinosaur, The Vanisher, Chance, Ariel, Gomi, Bill and last but not least Don. Earning this team the distinction of being one of the most random teams in comics.

Right around the time they get all the members together, the Vanisher tells them to go "foraging" for food and/or money. While doing this they run into a rogue Madrox dupe and Devil Dinosaur accidentally steps on and kills Bill the mutant cyborg lobster (man, I enjoy using that phrase). Which creates the subplot of Don wanting revenge on Devil Dinosaur for killing his best friend, and the rest of the team trying to convince him that although, he may be a cyborg lobster that it would be awfully dumb of him to try and attack a mutant T-Rex. Soon, Ariel invites the team to come hang out on planet(?) Coconut Grove. The team figures sure why not and follows her there. After the people of Coconut Grove forcibly give the team makeovers they reveal why Ariel was sent to Earth to seek out mutants. It turns out there hasn't been a mutation on Coconut Grove in millions of years and they need the DNA of the Mutants that Ariel has collected in order to help them evolve and mutate, oh and it also turns out much to their protesting through out the issue that both Ariel and Chance are mutants. Turns out Chance has the mutant power to augment or nullify the powers of other mutants depending on the demands of the script and Ariel can manipulate people with her voice.

Well, the folks of Coconut Grove capture the Fallen Angels (except for Boom-Boom and Don). They then take Madrox and Sunspot away to experiment on and extract their mutant gene. Don initially comes in only wanting to rescue Gomi. But, after a rousing speech about forgiveness, Don decides to help free all of the Fallen Angels even including Devil Dinosaur. After beating up the guards and taking their keys Don manages to free the others. Then the go off in order to save Roberto and Jamie. They do so, and after returning to their hideout at Beat Street, Warlock and Sunspot decide to go back and rejoin the New Mutants, while Madrox and Siryn decide to continue with the Fallen Angels and thus ends the book.

The Adventures of Patsy and Remy

After reading the fourth part of X-Men: To Serve and Protect. I really, really want the Immonens to make this an one going series. The chemistry between the characters were great and I really like when Gambit is the voice of reason and the one being flummoxed by someone else and Patsy Walker is the funnest agent of chaos as written by Kathryn Immonen. Add to this Stuart Immonen's awesome artwork and I would by this comic twice a month if they put it out bi-weekly. This was just such a fun and neat story that I would love to see where they could take this pair if given a monthly title (hell, even a mini-series). This story really worked for me and the Immonens really hit this one out of the park.

Casting Cloak and Dagger

With news of ABC Family developing a Cloak and Dagger TV show I thought I would chime in (a bit late) on how I think should be cast in the leading and supporting roles. I've always dug these characters and I really hope that this show works out. With an eye towards this being a tv show I figured I would stick with only the leading characters having superpowers and that the rest of the cast would just be regular non-powered people and so, here's my cast:

Cloak/Tyrone Johnson - Maestro Harrell. Much like Taylor Momsen, I haven't seen him in that much. But, from what I have seen him in I think he would do a good job as Tyrone.


Dagger/Tandy Bowen - Taylor Momsen, Although I'm not too familar with her work. I feel sees got the look to play Tandy both before and after her and Tyrome were drugged. Plus I think being on Gossip Girl she could probably handle the dark subjects of the show than one of the girls from one of the Disney or Nickelodeon shows.


Father Delgado - Jeremy Sisto, after his role on Law and Order I feel that Sisto would make a good choice as the priest who takes in Cloak and Dagger and allows them to use his church as their home base while offering support and guidance to them.


Silvermane - Kyle MacLachlan, He has the right mix of menace and congeniality to play the elder mobster whom seeks a formula for immortality. Give him some silver hair dye and he's set.


Simon Marshall - Bryan Callen, with his recurring role as Bilson on HIMYM. I think he has just the right mix of likability and jerkass to pull off the role of the man who found the duo on the streets and injected them with the drugs which turned them into superheroes.


Well there you have it. My casting choices for the (hopefully) upcoming Cloak and Dagger TV series.

The Irredeemable X-Men

So, for a while now I've been toying with the idea of making up an X-Men team made up of the mutants that get no respect for the powers and came up with the idea of the Irredeemable X-Men team which consist of:

Iceman - The leader of the team, who's trying to prove to Scott and the others he can lead and that making ice is not just a parlor trick seeing how he can control one the the most abundant of the elements on Earth.

Jubilee - Besides being one of my favs she's got an awesome personality and can control the fourth state of matter (plasma) with her "fireworks".

Husk - Every team needs a big guy and I think she would be a fun one to go with. though she's not made fun of as much as the two above her. She hasn't gotten a lot of face time in the X-Men books (well, other than in the X-Men vs. Vampires books).

Wolfsbane - Even though she doesn't get teased too much about her actual powers, I do feel she could be used better with in the X-Men books which tend to focus on her religious views in a way that I think is unfair (Like some of the jokes her X-Factor teammates have thrown her way) and that she would make a good team mom for this rag-tag group.

Cypher - Last but not least the guy who can understand all forms of communication. Granted the new New Mutant book has been treating him better (especially when he pwn'd the team in his first re-appearance). He still doesn't get nearly the respect he should based on his powers. Heck, look how crazy awesome Cassandra Cain was using only one of the techniques available to him.

So, there you have it, the Irredeemable X-Men team. Hopefully someone at Marvel will make this happen and then maybe Joey Q will stop getting so much flack (from people like me) about Spider-MAn's satanic divorce.

Wolverine's Powerful Princesses

While handing out candy this year, me and a friend struck upon the funnest idea for a new X-Men team. While we're still working on a name that doesn't sound pervy. The idea for the team thus far is that for whatever reason (maybe he stole Cyclop's motorcycle one too many times). Wolverine is put in charge of leading a team consisting of; Jubilee, Molly Hayes, Pixie and, Kitty Pryde. Most of this series would consist of various X-Men popping in to make fun of Wolverine. With Colossus occasionally dropping in so that Illyana can visit with her friends and Molly Hayes beating up Wolverine when doesn't pickup the right slurpee flavor or drive her too the mall or whatever. But, mainly just a book written as an excuse for young Molly to pummel Logan on a monthly basis.

She's the Boss Pt. 2

It's been a long time since I've posted anything new, mainly because I couldn't really think of anything to post. But, in the last couple of weeks I've been getting back into my love of Jubilee. I felt it would be a good time to finally post some new material. As, I've talked about in other posts I enjoy reading comics which feature Wolverine and Jubilee from the perspective that he is actually her sidekick. Just something about the idea that mean, feral, tough as nails Wolverine is following a bubbly teenage mall rat tickles me deep down in my soul and if I ever got the chance to write an X-Men book I would totally play up this alternative character interpation. With Jubilee calling the shots and Wolverine basically being like whatever, when do I get to punch someone? Looking back I think the main place the seeds of this interpation of their relationship were sewn was in the episode of the 90's cartoon in which Jubilee tells a group of kids visiting the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters a fantasy style tale, in which she is a Robin Hood type with an orc like version of Wolverine as her sidekick. Since, then it just makes their team-ups more enjoyable to me thinking that she is the boss and he is the muscle. Maybe, it's because she's always been a bit more mouthy and brazen then Wolverine's other teen aged sidekicks. Which writing this makes me wonder why no one seems to play up the creepiness of Wolverine taking on teen aged girl sidekicks as much as they do the whole thing with Batman taking up teen aged boys as sidekicks. To me at least Wolvie's relationships seem a bit more unseemly than Batman's. But, then that's just me. But, yeah I view Batman's mentoring a lot more innocently than I do Wolverine's. But, back on topic I feel that Wolverine and Jubilee's relationship works best when she is shown as the one guiding their missions and making the decisions about how to proceed.

Another Pitched Marvel Will Ignore

Thinking today about the book I would love to write if Marvel ever lost there sense and hired me. I came to the realization that the book I would truly love to write for them would be a new volume of Marvel Team-Up and for you my faithful readers I will layout how I would write it starting with my first team-up. I would take highly unlikely character and put them in situations where the would have to grudgingly accept each others help and maybe even become friends by the end of the story and my first team-up would be....Gambit and War Machine. That's right official stick in the mud Jim Rhodes and part time thief Remy LeBeau.



The story would begin with Rhodey investigating a string of thefts within Stark Industries. The clues quickly point him in the direction of one Remy LeBeau (whom has been living it up in Vegas). Rhodey travels to Vegas and playing it cool ends up in a game of Texas hold'em where he and Gambit are the last to players. As the stakes of their game get higher Rhodes asks more and more pointed questions in an attempt to get Remy to confess. Of course, Gambit sees what Rhodes is trying to do from a mile away and evades the questions while putting together a mental list of whom would be trying to set him up for these thefts. The final card is dropped and Gambit wins the pot. Deciding he could use some more info he offers to buy Rhodey a drink at the bar. While sharing a drink Remy comes up with some names of the possible perpetrators and offers to help War Machine catch the thieves (for a slight reward of course). They then go busting down doors making their way down Gambit's list of suspects. Though, non of these rogues are the one's Jim and Remy are looking for, they do provide some helpful information on the reason for the thefts and eventually the catch the theif whose is revealed to be... Tony Stark, who had set up Gambit because of a confidence scam Gambit had pulled on him. Gambit returns the money he had taken from Stark (though not before stealing Tony's wallet)and they all go out for a drink.

Well, there you have it my first issue of Marvel Team-Up staring Gambit and War Machine.

Jay's All New, All Different X-Men Team.

I haven't done this in a while. So, I thought it would be fun to take a Little time and come up with the teams I would use if I were writing the X-Men Books. First off I would use the idea from the 90s of a gold and blue team. I would also have them based out of the mansion again and have a support team of Forge, Moira, Cypher and, Cyclops leader of the entire group.
The Gold Team. For this team I thought I'd go with a more experienced group.

Havok - Team Leader. Like his brother. Havok is a natural leader and has led many of the members on this team before.

Polaris - Besides being Alex's on again/off again love interest. She's a flier with long range powers.

Rogue - Heavy hitter and a flier.

Cannonball - Though, a good leader in his own right. He is the only one of the New Mutants to make this team and like Rogue, he is a flier and heavy hitter.

Nightcrawler - He can be stealthy, is good with malee weapons and can get help out of a fit in a pinch, with his teleporting powers.

Wolverine - He had to be on at least one of these teams so, might as well be on the one with someone whom knows how to deal with him.

Gambit - Besides also having Rogue on this team. With all the time he's spent reigning in Logan. I figured Havok could control Gambit a lot better than the leader of the Blue Team and it's always good to have someone that can blow stuff up on at least one of the teams.

Psylocke - Again, she has experience working with Alex and, her powers are complimented by being on this team.

Colossus - The team's heavy hitter.

Kitty Pryde - With Piotr and Logan on this team you could've guessed she was going to be on this team. Plus, much like Nightcrawler she's good to have around in case the fight starts to go sour.

BLUE TEAM. Though, not as experienced as the Gold Team. They're not a team to be taken likely.

Multiple Man - Team Leader. Since, starting up X-Factor investigations. Madrox has been the type of leader a guy with his powers should be.

Siryn - With her and Jamie's personal history. She could be good at keeping him in line as well as her long range and flight powers.

M - Jamie knows how to deal with her and she is a powerhouse, no matter what time she's on.

Angel - I put him and a couple of the original X-Men on this team to work as mentors to the younger members. Plus, he's a flier and it's always good to have a few of those on your team.

Wolfsbane - The malee fighter of the team.

Husk - She was on a team with M and in a relationship with Angel. So, there will definitely make things interesting. Plus, the her powers she can be whatever supporting member the team needs.

Jubilee - With Husk and M on the team it's only natural to have Jubes on the team. Plus, I think it would be entertaining how she and MAdrox would butt heads.

Iceman - The main reason I put him on the team was because of this team's lack of long range attackers and him being a bit more immature than the folks on the other team. I thought he'd make a good fit on this team.

Sunspot - The team's powerhouse and a former teamate of Rahne's I felt this was the team for him.

Beast - A heavy hitter and able to find solutions for problems no one's thought exist. I feel he would make a good mentor to all the members including Madrox and I kind of think that if he had a choice he would pick to be on this team, for the entertainment of watching these personalities trying to work together.

Well, there you go. My Gold and Blue X-Men teams.

Fallen S.W.O.R.D. (A Review/Post Mortem)

So, this week I finally got the chance to read SWORD. For those whom didn't read it before it was cancelled SWORD follows Lockheed, Beast and, Abigail Brand after Astonishing X-Men. In the series Henry Gyrich has been selected by Norman Osborn as the co-head (along with Ms. Brand) of S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Department)basically, the outer space version of S.H.I.E.L.D. and is head quartered on a space station above Earth named The Peak. Although, I did enjoy the series. I can also see why it was cancelled. For one the set up seems like it would have been better suited to a mini series rather than an ongoing series. there is a bit of a storytelling engine set up for the series. But, for the most part it's lacking a set up to continue for a long time. One of the first cracks in the armor of this series as an ongoing series is the machinations of Gyrich to have all aliens on Earth, deported back to their home worlds. While it is a good story had this plot been paced as more of a secondary plot than the main one (as it is in the issues I read). It could have added some interesting story arcs in the long run as Gyrich slowing turns the staff of The Peak against Brand and becomes more influential on Earth. Instead of doing this however, Gillen and Sanders make this the main story of the first arc. Had they used this plot point as a slow burner. I think they could have made the storytelling engine a bit richer. The final thing that I think set this series up to fail was that it didn't seem to have enough of a intro hook besides remember the last couple of pages in Whedon's Astonishing X-Men series. This is what happened to Beast and Brand. Though, another thing that could have helped the series was had they shown they were keeping take of that "bullet" Kitty was trapped in. Like I sadi at the beginning cool story but, easy to see why it didn't make it as an ongoing series (atleast in my humble opinion).

Everyone enjoys a little Rahne every now and again

Taking a brake from all the listy goodness for a little bit. I thought I would right about something that's been bouncing around my head for the last couple of weeks. A couple of weeks ago while I was at Comic Fest me and the friend I went with were chatting about this and that and it got me thinking about how (despite her low profile) Wolfsbane has been in more titles than almost any other New Mutant, heck she's even co-starred in a couple of mini-series with Wolverine (and weirdly enough both were also written by Peter David). Seriously, you never hear much in fandom about Ms. Rahne Sinclair (not even on any of the feminist type blogs), Even though, she was in New Mutants, two versions of X-Factor and is now one of the main characters in the new X-Force book as well as being in the New Mutant/New X-men book while she was dating Elixir. I'm not really sure why this is, though I do have a sinking suspicion that Peter David really digs the character. After all, he has written two series and to minis that she has co-starred in. Yet, she barely rates a mention on the internets and that is a real shame. Now granted,I really dig Wolfsbane, in all of her incarnations and was extremely happy when I found out that one of my quarter bin finds from Comic Fest was X-Factor #99 where Haven cures her of the mutate thing and she was able to revert back to her human form and was no longer mind linked to Havok. All in all it's not a bad issue at all. Anyways getting back to the subject I think one of the strength's and why she has been in, is that she is really good supporting character. For one her background and her faith makes for interesting exchanges between her and other characters (especially,when some kind of moral dilemma is being discussed). Plus, with her powers of lycanthropy it makes a good visual, even in the background of a fight scene. What's weird is still thinking about all of this the other day, I started thinking about whether or not she would be able to carry off her own mini series and even as a huge fan of the character I don't really think she could. Unless of course, a very talented write had a story they felt could only be told with her in the lead. Other than that though, I think she works best as a supporting character that occasionally has an issue or to that spotlight her. Lately, I started re-reading the latest version of X-Factor up until she left and joined X-Factor and I think what I really enjoy about her is how Peter David writes her as a girl with a fierce and tough exterior in a vain attempt to hide her caring and soft personality and the conflicts and hurt that stem from her upbringing as well as from the conflicted ways she feels about her powers and mutant abilities. I really feel that even as a supporting character she is really fleshed out well (especially when written by Peter David) into a character that you really care and hope for as she deals with the traumas of her childhood as well as her mutant powers while growing into a woman of deep faith and conviction and it's a shame she doesn't get more coverage on the blogs or in the comic press and hopefully here soon, more people will realise just how awesome she is. Plus, who doesn't love a gal with a Scottish accent.

She's the Boss...Bub

Reading a blog on here a couple days ago someone referred to Jubilee as Wolverine's sidekick. Which kinda struck me as odd since as a kid I always thought he was her sidekick and even lately rereading the Jim Lee Visionaries trade. It seems like that, or at least that's how I interpret it. Nowadays I can see it more of thinking of her as his sidekick, but (partly because it's funnier)I still like to think of him as her sidekick. Just something about this world wary soldier being the tag a long to a teenage mallrat just tickles me deep down and if I ever got the chance to write a Wolverine story that is exactly how I would write it with her calling the shots and him just there as the muscle following her around and her flights of fancy and beating up any one dumb enough to talk smack to her. Of course, the funniest thing would be to have him (in at least one panel) say to her "sure, boss." Well that's all I got for today. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

The New Mutants (coming to Disney XD soon)

After yesterday's post I've decided to keep the New Mutant love going. So, today I thought I'd spend some time and go into further detail on the idea I posted (in one of my very first posts on here). The idea was that (among others) The New Mutants should have an animated series based on their adventures. For me this idea is a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned. After all, you could stealth get kids into the Marvel Universe by using this team that not many of them have heard of, and maybe their parents haven't even heard of this team. Plus, you get to tell stories that haven't been told a million times before. Which seems to be the many problem of what to do when you bring one of the A-list comic book characters to the small screen and there as an offshoot of this you can tell stories that are nearly direct lifts from the original New Mutants book and the kids will think these are brand new stories. Of course, now that Marvel has been bought by Disney, I feel this would be even more advantageous. So, on that note this is how I would break down the series:




Season 1 - The formation of the team. Professor X must find these "new mutants" that are appearing around the world before Donald Peirce and the Hellfire Club find them and turn them into criminals. This season would have Spiderman, the X-Men and, the Fantastic Four. The season ends with Karma's disappearance and the team going on to look for Roberto's Mother.

Season 2 - The New Mutants begin learning how to use their powers responsibly. As well as Learning to work as a team and trust each other with their lives. With season begins with the New Mutants finding and saving Roberto's mother from a group of goons. Which leads into them them discovering Nova Roma and befriending Amara Aquilla (though I would probably drop some of the Roman stuff and make it more South American). It would also have Kitty Pryde join the team and the season ending with the team being forced into attending the the Massachusetts Academy. With the X-Men and Hellfire Club guest staring.

Season 3 - Would open with the New Mutants escaping from the Massachusetts Academy and Ktty leaving the team. After that it would feature the arc where Rahne and Roberto gain Cloak & Daggers powers and the addition of Cypher (Doug Ramsey) to the team and ending with the Demon Bear Saga and Magick joining the team. Guest stars would include Cloak & Dagger, Spiderman and the Avengers along with a couple of X-Men.

And if it was lucky enough to get a fourth season this one would include the addition of Warlock, as well as the Legion storyline and the introduction of Strong Guy as Sam reconnects with Lila Chaney and the team learning what happened to Karma and attempting to rescue her from her Uncle's control. Guests would include Multiple Man, Dazzler, Kitty Pryde,Strong Guy and Banshee.

Well there you have it Disney (and Marvel) my pitch for a New Mutants cartoon. Now all you have to do is give me a bunch of free passes to Disney land and world and I will write the entire thing (and of course, make sure to credit Chris Claremont).

Some New Mutant Love

Ya know I realised today that I haven't written about my love of The New Mutants in awhile. One of the things that brought this on was me finally getting a copy of The New Mutants: Classic Vol. 4 and chatting about it with a couple of people. So, in an attempt to rectify that, I figured I would do some of that today. First I would like to talk about how disappointing it was when they killed off Doug Ramsey. To me this was a wasted opportunity, he could have been one of the most effective mutants. After all his power is that he can understand all languages. Think about that for a minute. Besides, using it to translate and communicate with all the countries of the Earth and all the alien races of the Marvel Universe, he can also understand body languages (much like Batgirl before she learned to speak) of both humans and non-humans. But, he could also understand all computer languages. Just going with the computer and body language aspects would be like combining the skills of Oracle and Cassandra Cain into one character. Just doing that would have made him into one of the most badassed characters around, then you add in his powers as the best translator in the MU and you have one very powerful mutant.

Next I would like to talk about (again), how one of the things that separated the X-Men from other teams of superheroes and really made them stand out (at least for me). Was the Xavier School. As I've written on here before this is one of the worst parts of that whole House of M fiasco in my opinion. Without the school there isn't much difference between the X-Men and any of the other superhero teams and to keep this post on subject. I would like to add that one of the things that I really enjoyed back in the day about reading The New Mutants was the whole the junior varsity team vs. the varsity team rivalry between the new mutants and the X-Men, especially in the story arc of Kitty Pryde joining the New Mutants and how she felt like it was a demotion from her place on the X-Men.

Finally, I would like to spend a little time on how good this series was in its character work. From the first issue up until Rob Liefeld began working on the book you could really see the through line of the growth each character developed through out the series. From Sam becoming more comfortable as a leader to Rahne gaining more self confidence as well as becoming more comfortable in her own skin. Even the development in both Bobby and Danielle of learning to work with a team and each becoming less implusive in their actions. I could go on and on about all the things I love about this book. But, I think this is a good stopping point.

Away My X-Men

Lately, I've been thinking about the X-Men and the different things I like about them. This train of thought then brought me to how much "House of M" really bugged me. Besides de-powering one of my favorite X-Men (the mighty and awesome Jubilee). It also really annoyed me how much they shrunk the mutant population. One of the things I dug about the X-Men pre-House of M was the variety in mutants and powers and how the different groups within the Xavier Institute. Of all the things I miss about the X-Men and their affiliated "X-Teams" the pre-House of M variety and the combinations that led to make my really miss those days. sadly, stories like House of M have become a trademark of Joe Quesada's editorial run at Marvel. After all who would of thought after this terrible story we would have the whole Civil War fiasco followed by Peter Parker selling his soul to the Devil and getting a divorce out of the deal. One the plus side it looks like they're finally undoing a couple of these stories and even though DC has been better at the major event promotions as of late. One of the things that really has been bugging me about both companies has been the whole Nothing Will Ever Be The Same!!! events. Of course, the main reason I'm not a fan of these events is because, the only thing that makes one of these events stick is wholey dependent on how good the story is. After all once another writer takes over a book (s)he is able to throw out the stuff they don't like while keeping the continuity they either like or were fans of back in the day and in teh end I guess, even us fans have the power to do that as well and in my X-Men Universe Jubes is still a mutant and the kids that starred in the X-Men Academy books are all still at the school and they all still live in New York state.

Meet the new director of S.H.E.I.L.D.

With Nick Fury M.I.A. (again) and Disney aquirring Marvel. I now present you with the new S.H.E.I.L.D. Director...

Kim Possible