Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #16.1

Hey guys, JT here a surprising .1 issue review. I didn't expect a .1 for Ultimate Spidey and this one came out of nowhere really, here's hoping it's a good read and I didn't waste three bucks! Let's see shall we?

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #16.1

Summary: We kick things off seeing Reporter Betty Brant watching the amateur footage of the fight Miles had with his uncle, The Prowler, before his suit backfired and burned him into ashes.She overhears him say to Spider-Man "You're just like me." and mentions it the next day during a staff meeting with other reporters at the Daily Bugle, as well as her boss, J. Jonah Jameson. She comes to the conclusion that the Prowler amped up when the new Spider-Man debuted and she thinks they may have been working together and may be related. Ben Urich asks if they've learned nothing from the Death of Peter Parker, and Jameson tells Betty to find out the facts before he brings her any more information on the story, as of now she just has bits and pieces of alleged info. Betty shows her tenacity by heading to the Police Station and getting The Prowler's file, she then heads to his now empty apartment, after he up and left one night and moved all his things, according to his landlord. After looking around, Betty finds a big dead Spider with the number 43 written on it before leaving. She heads to Roxxon Industries, and after being told to go to hell in a couple hilarious ways by Dr. Marcus, she shows him the dead Spider, which surprises him. He explains he was working on a project at Oscrop to duplicate Spider-Man's powers but it failed, and that spider probably escaped during a SHIELD raid. He and Betty both realize that the Spider could have given this new Spider-Man his powers as well, and Betty takes off with the Spider and Dr. Marcus yells at her to come back with it. After staking him out and getting a picture, Betty tells Jameson that she knows who the new Spdier-Man is, Jefferson Davis, the brother of the Prowler. Surprisingly, Jameson says he's not running the story. He says if he is Spider-Man, which he doesn't believe based on Betty's track record, then the town has one less hero and his family's lives are ruined, and all Betty wants is to make money. She tells Jameson she'll take her story elsewhere, and makes a few phone calls. She arrives home when suddenly she's confronted and impaled by.... VENOM?!


Thoughts: This issue was good until Betty's stupid discovery that Jefferson was Spider-Man. ANYONE can see that Spidey is a very slender, short person, and Miles is much shorter than his dad, so that alone should've tipped her off that Jefferson is not Spider-Man. I mean sure, you can't measure the guy but come on. Spider-Man was shorter than The Prowler! Anyway, I loved seeing Jameson stand up for Spider-Man, I don't know if the Ultimate Jameson has always been this great or if it happened after Peter's death like I suspect, but his reply to Betty was amazing. Also, any time someone calls out the fact Jameson has a Hitler mustache, I am a fan. And last but not least the surprise of Venom was great, I'm wondering what he's doing since he seems to be helping Spider-Man in a perverse way, and I'm also curious to see who this Ultimate Venom is, considering I'm kinda new to the Ultimate Universe.

Score: 7/10 

Robbie: How long have you lived in New York, Ms. Brant?
Betty: All my life.
Robbie: And am I the first person to tell you that not all African-American people are related?

A+X #1

I know this is a mini-series, but I'm not sure how many issues it's gonna run...  I'd guess 6?  Anyway, before I even get to this review, I'm going to say to check out X-Man's Comic Forum for various comic related(or even non-comic related) stuff.  Reviews, news, video games, movies, TV shows, you name it, it's going on over there.  So make sure you keep an eye open for the forum.  Without further ado, here's a quick look at the first of... um, a couple of A+X comics!

A+X #1

Summary: Two stories, which pair heroes from the X-Men and Avengers.  The first one is from 1943 and has Captain America and Bucky sent on a secret mission to deal with some sort of Nazi robots that were being built by a Atticus Trask...  Hmm, Trask, you say?  Cap and Bucky head over to Trask's secret base and discover a huge Sentinel.  From there. Cable pops out of the timestream and goes after Trask, complaining about Trask trying to ruin the timestream(or something like that).  Anyway, Cap and Bucky join the battle on Cable's side and they defeat Trask and his Sentinel.  Cable takes Trask back to the future  and Cap figures the allies will win the war since Cable was speaking English.  Next up, Wolverine and Hulk are ambushed in Avengers Tower by the Maestro and Old Wolverine.  The older Hulk and Wolvie bemoan the fact that their target isn't there, and end up getting knocked out of the Tower, at which time they head... You guessed it, back to the future!  Wolvie and Hulk are perplexed by that turn of events, and this one ends in the White House where a Red Hulk-looking guy yells at the two older heroes for not having succeeded in killing the Red Hulk.

Thoughts.  My first thought here was that this comic was WAAAAY too short to be a $3.99 comic!  It went by SO fast!  Besides that, the first story was way superior to the second, although neither one is what I'd call a must read.  This comic really didn't leave any kind of impact on me actually, because I can't even think of anything else to add!

Score: 7 1/2 out of 10.

Yep, for those of you who can't get enough Sentinels, how about a Nazi Sentinel?!?

AVX Consequences #4

Hey Guys, Gals and Troll readers, JT here with my first review of the week. Before I start, thanks to X for putting up my side of the NCD post, you're an awesome guy and a jerk. So, awesome jerk. Anyway,  remember that anything myself and my cohort don't get a chance to review or touch upon this week can be discussed at the X-Man Comic Forum, so feel free to drop by there. Now that the cheap plugs are done, let's get things started.

AVX Consequences #4

Summary: This issue starts off with Stark going to see Cyclops in prison, when he asks for his help in studying the Phoenix force, because Tony can;t stop thinking about it. Cyclops is in no mood to help Stark until he reveals that he knew the end result with Hope would create more mutants, Cyclops, a bit surprised, decides to help Tony with his findings. From there we jump around a bit, and see that Abigail Brand is helping Magneto stay ahead of the authorities in finding him, because although she's part alien, she's also part mutant, and she's loyal to Cyclops' Extinction team because they wanted mutants to have a future. Next we see Hope and Namor, as Hope is underwater beneath Utopia, as she's looking for records on her Dad, as well as her jetpack. Hope asks Namor how he could justify destroying Wakanda after saying it was just war, he tells her that for the first time ever, he felt small, and he dislikes that feeling.Next up we see Storm finding Colossus, who has a beard... over his metal face... that makes me laugh for some reason. Colossus seems to be repeatedly building his sister's face in stone, then smashing it. He tells Storm that he trusted his heart and that was a mistake, and he won't do so again. He then tells her to turn him in or leave him be, and as Storm leaves, Colossus tells her one more thing, he she finds his sister, to kill her. As Storm is leaving, she's confronted my Magneto, who says he made the decision to leave Colossus be as well. It seems that Magneto is back to the role of the villain, with Magik siding with him as well, he tells Storm that the time of hero and villain walking arm in arm for a better greater purpose is over now. A week later at the prison, we see Cyclops and the new mutant Jake, as Jake is getting a tattoo done, when a guard comes to get Cyclops for his meeting with Stark. As Cyclops is leaving, Jake is attacked by a group of prisoners who stab him, Cyclops comes to his rescue but is disabled by the guard due to the helmet he has to wear. Later, Wolverine comes to visit Cyclops and he tells him that Jake didn't make it. An angry Cyclops asks Wolverine why he's there, and he says he heard about what happened from Stark and he thought he could use some talking down. Cyclops says he doesn't need it but Wolverine says he does, and he knows what Cyclops is thinking of doing next. He says he believes he didn't purposely kill the Professor, and that Cyclops has always been a role model to Wolverine, showed him how to be a better man. He says he still asks himself sometimes, what would Scott Summers do, and what Cyclops is thinking next, Scott Summers wouldn't do. Cyclops thanks Wolverine for his words before Wolverine takes off. Cyclops sits there for a minute before taking out a pouch of metal shavings (which he procured in issue 3) and writing out "Now" with them. The issue comes to a close as we see Magneto with Danger and Magik, as he states "Villains it is."


Thoughts: It's crazy, I honestly think that AVX Consequences is leaps and bounds better than AVX. This issue was great, I loved seeing the different conversations, especially with Wolverine and Cyclops at the end. I like that it seems we're going to have a clear cut villains team, and Cyclops, Magneto, Magik and Danger is interesting, what's even more interesting is the fact Emma may be opposing this team since she's still upset with Scott. I'm really excited for the next issue, as well as for what Wolverine's reaction will be once Cyclops escapes. Plus, I'm all for the prospect of a villainous Cyclops to bring some life to the character, as well as his inevitable death now.

Score: 8.5/10 

Wolverine: Even now, in the school, when i want to pop claws through some smarmy kid, I still ask myself... What Would Scott Summers Do?

New Comic Day! Oct. 31st edition.

Hey X-Manicas, X back after some much needed time off.  Things have been better for yours truly health-wise, but I think I've recuperated enough to get back to my blogging duties.  As usual, I'll do three reviews, while my good friend, JT, will add three reviews of his own.  Everything else will get a mention over at X-Man's Comic Forum(which, if I'm being honest, is way easier, and a tad more enjoyable, than working here at the blog...).  Anyway, here are the books I'll be getting for today...  American Vampire #32, Justice League Dark Annual #1, Fatale #9, Whispers #4, A+X #1, Avenging Spider-Man Annual #1, AvX Consequences #4, Mighty Thor #22, New Mutants #50, Ultimate X-Men #18, Winter Soldier #12, X-Men Legacy #275.  That gives me 12 books to read this week...  That's right around the perfect number of books for me in a week, so huzzah for that.  As for what I'll be reading and reviewing, A+X #1, New Mutants #50 and probably Mighty Thor #22, although I could just as easily review Ult. X-Men or Winter Soldier.  We'll see what happens as the week progresses.  My review days will be Friday, Sunday and Tuesday.  And that's all for me this week, until next time, X out......

Or maybe not...  JT asked me to handle his side of the NCD post this week, and with all the work he's done here at the blog while I've been laid up, how could I say no?  Well, I could have, but I'm just too awesome a guy to do that to him.  Now, JT claims that he'll be getting Avenging Spider-Man Annual #1, AvX Consequences #4, A+X #1 and Ultimate Spider-Man #16.1.  But you know how that guy is...  You just can't trust him!  So yeah, JT is getting a rather pathetic 4 books from the shop this week...  How sad.  He also told me that he'll be reviewing Avenging Spider-Man Annual #1, AvX Consequences #4 and Ultimate Spider-Man #16.1.  Or at least that's what he claims...  Mr. JT will be dropping reviews on Thursday, Saturday and Monday.  And that's it for this week.  Until next time, um... JT out?

Change in Plans

Hey everyone, JT here with a quick announcement. Due to the fact that I've yet to take even a week off since taking the reigns full-time back in June here,  then slowly taking a part-time gig once my buddy X returned, to say I'm a bit tired of blogging would be accurate. I think a week off would be enough to recharge my batteries, and with X taking time off, me having a ton planned for the next week, including the Detroit FanFare, I figure I'll take off for the week. I'll still discuss the comics I've read at my leisure over at the X-Man Comic Forum... We gotta work on that name... and X will be there as well talking comics. Sorry for the change in plans but hey, when ya get burnt out what can you do? See you guys at the Forum, til next time, JT signing off.

New Comic Day! October 24th edition.

Hey Comic Misfits, JT here with this week's New Comic Day post! As you may have noticed, I didn't get around to reviewing Hawkeye #3 and Venom #26, and I apologize for that, but things have been a bit busy around here with myself and my good buddy X. X will probably be taking a week or two off from blogging, which he'll delve into a bit below, leaving things in my less than capable, yet very manly hands. :P I'm not going to promise a review everyday, but I will try to get at least three reviews up between Thursday and Monday. That may even be a hard feat considering I'm only getting five comics this week! And those five comics are Batman: The Dark Knight #13, Invincible #96, Amazing Spider-Man #696, AVX Consequences #3, and Deadpool #63. I'll more than likely end up reviewing ASM #696, AVX Consequences #3 and Batman: The Dark Knight #13. So expect those at some point... And now, here's my pal X.

Hey X-Maniacs.  A very sore X here to echo what my friend JT just said.  I won't be able to do much blogging the next week at the very least, and possibly longer depending on what my doctor tells me.  Yep...  Anyway, with JT running things around here, things honestly couldn't be in better hands.  I'm actually getting a ton of books this week(or actually my brother is picking them up for me since I can't drive yet...), so here's what I'm expecting my brother to drop off for me.  I, Vampire #13, Justice League Dark #13, National Comics #1, Teen Titans #13, Invincible #96, Wolverine #315, Amazing Spider-Man #696, Avengers #32, AvX: Consequences #3, Captain America #19, Captain America and Black Widow #638, Deadpool #63, Invincible Iron Man #527, Journey Into Mystery #645, Secret Avengers #33 and Ultimates #17.  So as usual, a LOT of comics!  But that'll give me something to read while I recuperate, so that actually works out this week!  So huzzah!  I guess...  Anyway, the three I'm most looking forward to reading would probably be Spidey, Cap and Deadpool.  One more thing before I vanish for a while.  A year ago, JT and I started up a message board called, you guessed it, X-Man's Comic Forum.  If you guys want to head over there to talk about any of the comics JT and I listed here, go for it.  Or join the forum and you can try to get a conversation started on a comic me and my buddy may not be reading, but other people may want to talk about it.  For now, the forum may be the easiest way for me to talk comics, since it doesn't include all that much typing/thought.  So if you want, check the forum out HERE.  That's it for a very tired X, until later, see you guys.  X out.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #16

Hey guys, JT here with a change from our regularly scheduled program, I've decided to review Ultimate Spider-Man instead of Nightwing, I'd been holding off on reviewing this series since we skipped so many issues but I think this is a good series and it should be reviewed, so why not start here?

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #16

Summary: We start things off with Miles' dad, Jefferson, trying to get home to find out about his family, but the government has his street blocked off due to the United We Stand drama which has been going on for the last few issues. Because he's belligerent and worried about his family, he tries to go past the barricade, and ends up getting sent to a detention area, Meanwhile, Miles is trying to help Captain America and says he wants to join the Avengers. Cap verbally decimates Spidey by telling him that he's too young, he's not ready and etc. and to leave before he arrests him. The argument is ended when a HYDRA attacks and Spidey saves Captain America from falling to his doom with some quick webbing skills. From there, Cap and Spidey, accompanied by a few Hulkbusters take on HYDRA agents galore, and Miles even helps re-direct a rocket that was aimed at a building of civilians. Captain America things Miles may be in trouble but is shocked to see miles handled his own and stopped the rocket, and even helped Cap get the drop on the last HYDRA agents. Surprisingly, Captain America tells Miles he was wrong, and that Miles is in fact ready, and offers him a spot on The Ultimates, which Miles quickly accepts. He's then introduced to his new teammates, Iron Man, Thor and his old-pal Spider-Woman. Miles puts a hold on the festivities and calls his mom to tell her that he's okay, and says he's safe over Ganke's house. His mom says she hasn't heard from Miles' dad and Miles says he hasn't either, but his mom says that's him on the other line and she'll call Miles back. Miles is then told by Tony Stark to come on because he's not going to want to miss what's about to happen. The issue ends as Miles and the rest of The Ultimates watch on as Captain America announces that he's accepting the position of President of the United States of America.


Thoughts: This issue flew by man, It was full of so much fighting and action it didin't take long to read at all. I enjoyed the reasons Cap said Spidey wasn't ready, but I also liked that Spidey got to prove himself to captain America and earned his respect and a spot on the team. I can see this more as a training exercise than Miles being a full-fledged member, but I guess we'll see. Miles' dad being an idiot and acting like he doesn't know you can't cross police barriers really annoyed me, I get that he was upset and whatnot but there's a barrier for a reason, if his family were in their home, I'm sure they would've been escorted it and past the barrier... him acting like an ass came off as more of him being an idiot than a worried husband and parent. Overall, this was an average issue, but with the invitation to the Ultimates, that saved it from being forgettable, which definitely helps. I'm interested in seeing what happens now though, with Miles as a member of the Ultimates, his Uncle dead and his father in a detention area, there's a few ways this could go, I'm interested in seeing what happens to Miles next.

Score: 7/10 

Iron man: Welcome to the Ultimates, kid.

AVX Consequences #2

Hey guys, JT here again, and no, this isn't X playing a prank, it's actually me. My buddy X has been under the weather lately and I'm not sure if he's gonna be able to review for the rest of the week, and rather than him feeling like he has to post or not having any content up, I figured I'd fill in for his days for the rest of the week. X was scheduled to review Hawkeye #3 and Red Hood and the Outlaws #13, but since I don't read Lobdell, I'll review Hawkeye #3 and AVX Consequences #2. So, let's do it shall we?

AVX Consequences #2

Summary: I didn't review this first issue, but if I recall correctly the gist of it was that Cyclops is in prison with a cell block to himself pretty much, Wakanda is rebuilding and Mutants aren't welcome there, also they've declared war on Alantis, and Wolverine had to give Xavier's eulogy. This issue starts things off with a rightfully pissed off Wolverine coming to meet with Scott "Cyclops" Summers in an empty room at the prison. Wolverine downs a bunch of beers before asking Cyclops about "Chuck" Xavier, to which Scott replies that killing him was the last thing he wanted, and it wasn't him, but Wolverine tells him it doesn't matter, it was him when he started that path of destruction and still continued, so he's to blame. Cyclops says he did what he had to, and that Wolverine taught him that. He says the Jean Grey School will have new mutants now thanks to him, whereas Wolverine wanted to kill Hope in the first place, (Excellent point by Cyclops) and if he'd succeeded things wouldn't be the way they are now. Scott then says he understands how Jean felt, now more than ever, in ways Wolverine never will, which enrages Wolverine even more so he attacks him. Cyclops, de-powered thanks to the goggles that he has to wear in prison, waits for Wolverine to impale him with his claws, when Wolverine stops and says that Cyclops wants to die. Cyclops tells him that he does, and if he dies now he's a martyr. Wolverine says that's BS, and Scott wants it because he wants it, but Cyclops doesn't deny that either. He says he's either going to go to trial and be convicted of Diminished Responsibility or an Insanity Clause, so of course he's not going to get that chance. They can make him disappear, which Captain America would never allow, or they can keep him de-powered in prison, and let the inmates take him out. He tells Wolverine that he'd rather die at his hands, at least he'll make it quick. Wolverine, dejectedly tells Scott he takes all the fun out of wanting to murder someone. Wolverine then asks Scott to give up Colossus, Magneto, Magik, Danger and Namor, because if they don't find them soon, people will get wary which will lead to the return of Sentinel's, and asks Scott, even referring to him as "Slim" to help bring them in. Scott asks where Emma and Hope are, and if Wolverine tells him, he'll help,. but Wolverine says screw him, but in a less nice way, and tells him to go to hell, and as he leaves Scott replies "I can and did." Next we see Scott meeting a new mutant that recently got his powers after being attacked by another inmate, and they triggered which led to him taking out a bunch of inmates before being knocked out by the guard, so he now has to wear a power dampening collar. As he finishes his story, Cyclops notes that everyone is gone, including the guards, as three big inmates (including the one the new mutant beat up earlier) approach Cyclops and his newest associate holding shanks (prison knifes) as this issue comes to a close.


Thoughts: It's not often you get a comic that's 80% of two men in a room talking back and forth, and it's even less that you get a great comic from that, but AVX Consequences proves to be the exception. They used the excellent history between these characters, their morals, and of course mentioning Jean Grey to make this conversation draw you in. Cyclops made great points and showed while sometimes cocky, he was the leader for a reason, he's not an idiot. He knew what was going to happen before it did and we see that here, as well as his reasoning for the things he's done, while they can be disputed, he does make good points about Wolverine wanted to kill Hope, and how he inadvertently led to the return of the mutant population. The ending was a great cliffhanger because you have to wonder how a de-powered Cyclops can fare, I'm sure he can fight his ass off, but to say I'm curiously awaiting the next issue is an understatement.

Score: 8/10 

Cyclops: And in a few years, some rebellious lit;e kid is going to turn up at your school with me on his T-Shirt. "Cyclops was right."