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The Weekly Pile March 18, 2009: Dark Avengers #3, Ultimatum #3, Uncanny X-Men #507, Wolverine #71, X-Force #13

Mar 21, 2009 Comics, The Weekly Pile

The Weekly Pile is 5 issues strong this time around which is a vast improvement over last week’s unfortunate haul (or non-haul).  After digesting this past Wednesday’s crop, I quickly realized that every issue I purchased was published by Marvel.  I believe this is a first for me as a DC or Image book will typically find its way into the mix.  But, Marvel appears to be the publisher of the week as they secured 100% of my comics budget after I bought the following issues:

Continue of for Reviews of:

Dark Avengers #3
Ultimatum #3
Uncanny X-Men #507
Wolverine #71
X-Force #13

Dark Avengers #3
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Mike Deodato

Norman and Bob (The Sentry) sit down and have a good heart to heart shown in a flashback during the initial pages of Dark Avengers #3.  And you know what?  It made decent sense.  For those who have been asking (myself included) why the Sentry stuck around to be a part of these “new” Avengers, the answer is presented concisely for you (and me) within these pages.  Norman explains to the Sentry that he alone understands the tortured hero and relates stories of his own battles with inner demons.  He used to be the Green Goblin, so this guys knows a thing or two about issues…  Of course, this is Norman Osborne, so it’s likely just a heaping serving of manipulation to procure a powerhouse for his new super team.

Meanwhile, back in the present, the Avengers are still trying to take down the army of nastiness that Morgana Le Fay unleashed on them last issue.  While Le Fay isn’t holding up too well (she’s died twice in as many issues…), she does make up for it with staying power thanks to a little plot device known as time travel.  So, Dr. Doom and the Iron Patriot attempt to beat her at her own game as they channel the essence of Bill and Ted to do a little travelling through time themselves.  This leads to an unhappy Le Fay and the set up for more action in Dark Avengers #4 next month.

Quick bits I liked about the issue:

- The 2 page spread of the Avengers vs. everyone.
- “And this time, I’ll try not to die.”
- Ares getting “stoned”.

 

Ultimatum #3
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: David Finch

Ultimatum has been reading like a huge summer popcorn movie and it shows no signs of slowing down as it cruises through the halfway point with issue #3.   The first page opens with the “Scarlet Witch” looking the reader straight in the eye while listing off the recently deceased (so far…) who were lost while the flood occurred in the first issue.  It really is quite shocking to hear all the characters named on the ”death list”.  Marvel wasn’t kidding when they said this series would shake up the Ultimate Universe.

We get to experience all the reactions to what Magneto has done through the eyes of the characters who were close to those who were killed.  A wide spectrum of emotions are felt and displayed by the heroes across the city (and other realms) as they attempt to both deal and decide what to do next after what has been thrust upon them.  Ultimately, (sorry, I had to…) the decision is made to gather all who remain and to do what they always do; “save the world”.

Quick bits I liked about the issue:

- Giant Man loosing it… and his ultimate sacrifice.
- The Madrox bombers.
- Wolverine finding Kurt.

 

Uncanny X-Men #507
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Terry Dodson

Colossus seems to finally find some closure (or at least some peace) in regards to losing his love Kitty by the closing pages of this issue.  The path Peter had to embark on to find that peace ends where it started; in a tattoo shop.  Except this time, he is able to remain in his human form and “feel” the pain in order to allow the tattoo artist the chance to finish his new chest piece (”Katya”) before transforming into organic metal and ruining her equipment.

These last few pages are made possible by the preceding story in which Emma and Colossus make good on the implied promise from last issue in which they lay waste to everyone standing in their way.  Colossus is able to exercise some demons from his past and move past the pain he currently feels thanks in part to some surprisingly tender aid from Emma.

Quick bits I liked about the issue:

- “Your Mother would be so proud”.
- “X-Club”.
- The literal blood on Shaw’s hands thanks to Emma.

 

Wolverine #71
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Steve McNiven

One of the most fun things about futuristic stories that employ characters you already know and love is the fact that literally anything can happen.  It’s completely up to the creator to decide what has happened during all the years that have come and gone.  Mark Millar continues to pull back the curtain bit by bit to show us what has happened to these left over heroes of the Marvel Universe.  The reveal of Black Bolt was absolute genius.  I had no idea it was coming and his appearance was perfect for the story and true to his character.

The traveling duo of Wolverine and Hawkeye finally reach their destination and the contents of “the box” are revealed.  And no, it isn’t drugs…  well, not really…  The revelation of what is in the box and the implications of what those contents could mean has me extremely excited for the next issue.  The final pages guaruntees that Wolverine will wake up next issue sore and none too pleased with what has happened while he was out…

Quick bits I liked about the issue:

- Elderly Emma still using her powers to further her own ends.
- “Pym Falls”.  Genius.  Both in writing and execution on the page by Steve McNiven.
- Black Bolt’s whisper.

 

X-Force #13
Writers: Christopher Yost & Craig Kyle
Artist: Clayton Crain

We quickly discover how Archangel and X-23 escaped the bomb blast from last issue’s final page and it is beautifully illustrated by series artist Clayton Crain.  There aren’t many artists who can make the violence of X-Force and the savagery of these characters look this gorgeous, but Crain does so with ease.  Wolverine and company rarely look this slick.

This is the last issue before the “Messiah War” crossover begins next week and all signs point to a very exciting story on the horizon.  With the help of 7 individual time machines Beast was able to create last issue, the team finds themselves on a mission to stop (kill) the Leper Queen.  This mission becomes increasingly important when it is discovered that she is holding former members of the New X-Men hostage as living bombs.  The ensuing fights ends abruptly as something more important (according to Cyclops) occurs and everyone is immediately brought back to the present, leaving one of the mutant hostages alone with the psychotic Leper Queen.  Things is where things start to go really bad…

Quick bits I liked about this issue:

- Clayton Crain’s art.
- X-23’s connection to her former teammates.
- “We found Cable”.

 

The Pick of the Pile this week goes to Ultimatum #3 for it’s exciting pacing throughout the issue.  There were many “Oh my… ” moments and hints for plenty more greatness in upcoming issues.  This series is just plain fun and I am enjoying every page of it.

See you next week!

Tags: 13, 3, 507, 71, Avengers, bendis, brian, christopher, clayton, craig, crain, dark, david, deodato, dodson, finch, fraction, jeph, kyle, loeb, mark, matt, mcniven, michael, mike, millar, steve, terry, ultimatum, uncanny, wolverine, xforce, xmen, yost