No more entries until early January.

Unfortunately there will be no more entries until after January 7. I'll be out of town until then, and I have to await my first monthly shipment from DCBS before I can review the next batch of comics.

X-Men 178

Publisher: Marvel
Price: $2.50
Cover date: January 2006
W: Peter Milligan
A: Salvador Larroca

Synopsis: Just as the X-Men come under attack by the Sapien League, a group of Sentinels park themselves on the lawn of the Xavier Institute. And Bobby "Iceman" Drake undergoes (another) drastic, life altering mutation.

Thoughts: I really need to read House of M. I realize the mutant gene has been nearly eradicated and now there are only 198 mutants running around, and I know Iceman is one of the mutants-turned-human — but why are there humans piloting Sentinels and what is their (seemingly cooperative) interest in the X-Men? Yes, this is part two of three, so maybe reading part one would help explain some of this stuff. But, really, this is the X-Men we're talking about. It rarely makes sense. That said, I'm quite interested in learning what Emma did to Bobby.

Ultimate Vision 2

Publisher: Marvel
Price: free (flipbook with Ultimate X-Men 65)
Cover date: January 2006
W: Mark Millar
A: John Romita, Jr.

Synopsis: Dr. Sam Wilson (aka The Flacon) begins to hear Vision's earliest tales of destruction.

Thoughts: Last time there wasn't much story to speak of, this time, however, we've begun to delve into Vision's deadly intergalactic past. And though it isn't filled with action and intrigue, I found myself (loosely) gripped by the four-page story. (In fact, I couldn't get thoughts of the doomed Krypton out of my head. Whether that was Millar's intention or not, I do not know.) Romita's pencils, which felt rushed in the first installment, thrive vibrantly (with much help from inker Jimmy Palmiotti and colorist June Chung) and spark a desire to see more sci-fi stories from good ol' JRJR.

Ultimate X-Men 65

Publisher: Marvel
Price: $2.50
Cover date: January 2006
W: Brian K. Vaughan
A: Stuart Immonen

Synopsis: Mystique aids Magneto as he attempts to escape from prison, and the X-Men, who of course try to stop him, must also prove that Polaris is innocent of the murders she's been framed for.

Thoughts: Since this is the final installment in a five-part story (and since I haven't read the first four chapters), there was some confusion on my part. Despite that, I found myself enjoying a book I haven't read in two years. (But for some reason I continue to buy it. Oh, the plight of the comic book collector!) Vaughan has a solid foothold on these characters, and I hope to see him on a core X-title soon. (Or Wolverine.) Immonen's art, though I enjoy it, doesn't seem right for this book. I'd rather he illustrate the Fantastic Four, Ultimate or otherwise.

Thunderbolts 16

Publisher: Marvel
Price: $2.99
Cover date: February 2006
W: Fabian Nicieza
A: Rick Leonardi

Synopsis: Whizzer (as Speed Demon) and Nighthawk are "recruited" by the new Squadron Sinister, and the Thunderbolts find themselves in the middle.

Thoughts: I bought this (and #15) because I love Rick Leonardi's art, but I wasn't sure what to expect in the way of story. And what I got was one of the most confusing comics I've ever read. Worse yet, character interactions were flat, and did little to make me feel for these villains-turned-heroes. Basically, it would have been the same, empty experience had they all died on page two and the remainder of the comic was filled with blank pages. Leonardi's pencils, which of course drew me to the book, weren't quite what I was hoping for, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Hawkman 47

Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.50
Cover date: February 2006
W: Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti
A: Chris Batista

Synopsis: Hawkman, Hawkgirl and Adam Strange find themselves in the middle of a galactic war, and it has something to do with a dead guy named Onimar Synn.

Thoughts: Yeah... uh... not much in the way of story. Hawkman was recommended to me because this self-admitted Marvel zombie wanted to branch out into more DC titles, but this wasn't a good "jumping on point" (as they say). What little story is there certainly didn't entice future reading on my part. Basically, it's the first chapter in a three-part story, but it feels like part twelve of eighteen. Or whatever. Batista's art, however, is phenomenal in the way of detail! Hawkman's wings and gear must be seen, and I'd love to see him on Green Lantern.