Halloween 2009 - Time To Choose

I've pretty much decided to be one of the following. Since both costumes are almost identical (which I didn't realize until today), it really comes down to the accessories. Which is better, public?

BANSHEE

Pros: Banshee is an X-Man and I made a vow to always be X-Men for Halloween. I would love the chance to have red hair and sideburns on Halloween AND talk in an Irish accent. Plus that cape looks like a lot of fun.

Cons: It's overall not as exciting and hilarious as my other choice. Plus yellow boots are a pain and I'd probably have to do the converse and yellow knee socks again this year. And the less amount of time I have to wear yellow rubber gloves, the better.

Or...

IRON FIST

Pros: I'd get to wear actual shoes I could actually find somewhere. I wouldn't have to wear rubber gloves. I'd get to have a bare chest and capri pants, which is just hilarious to me. This is more iconic.

Cons: It's not an X-Man and it's actually a character I know less about. I love the recent Immortal Iron Fist series, but I have a bit of poseur guilt since I haven't read anything starring Iron Fist pre-2007. I could change my vow to always be a Marvel Character, which isn't that big a stretch. Also I could foresee that mask getting annoying...but if I wanted to go super authentic I could dye my hair blonde for the night.

I think Iron Fist is more fun just because he's probably one of the only heroes who DON'T have implausible gloves or boots. But Banshee is actually an X-Man and one I like. VOTE ON THIS.

Where I've Been

Yeah...don't know what I'm doing writing wise anymore. Here at least. I feel guilty about not updating this, especially since my main reason for having a blog is to keep track of my own life. I usually fear that I will forget everything. Yep! This has been a pretty stellar week, oddly enough. I started my new job as a page at The Late Show, and all the fears I had were pretty immediately silenced once I got there. It's fun, a fun job. And I'm back at Late Show in some capacity. And I got to see Rainn Wilson on my birthday, so that was awesome.

Tuesday I got to go to Six Flags with some great friends. I liked this. The day got 5.5 flags, the rain that came in knocking off the half a flag. We met costumed critters!
We also spent the weekend before at Matt Mayer's pool house, or Fort Mayer as I called it. I was reminded all weekend long how much fun my friends are, and how much I love spending an unstoppable amount of time with them. I didn't shower all weekend and slept on a hardwood floor one night, and it was still so awesome due to company. Here are eight of the minutes from the epic Fourth of July weekend.


I also got asked to submit to be a Maude writer (a.k.a a sketch writer) for UCB by the artistic director on Thursday morning. That was unexpected and completely mind-blowing, a big ol' pat on my back that I didn't really need (I had such a great time in 201 and I was already feeling good about myself) but it undoubtably heightened my outlook and mood and perception from feeling really good to feeling really great. Even if I don't get it, it's so flattering to have been suggested and gotten the opportunity. A world of wow.

So many good things are happening to me and my friends right now. Is 2009 turning around? Did I jinx it by writing this?

Comics: Uncanny X-Men #242

UNCANNY X-MEN #242
March 1989
"Burn!"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Marc Silvestri
Inker: Dan Green
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

Wow, if ever there was a doubt about Marc Silvestri's artistic talent, that opening page shatters all of them. The closeup image of Wolverine kissing Jean Grey passionately has become quite iconic, and it makes for a doozy of an opening page. And then...there's the rest of this issue. This giant-size issue. Way too many pages are spent with the X-Men fighting X-Factor for...really no reason. Sure the X-Men are sorta under demonic control, but that doesn't seem to bother Storm whenever she's reunited with Jean Grey. And then everything is back to normal and both teams join up to defeat N'astirh. It's kinda ludicrous and I really could have done without all of it. Yeah the fanboys want to see the two teams fight, but when there isn't really any motivation besides petty name-calling and there's no resolution besides saying "hey, let's not fight," it's just silly. There are some cool moments during the fight to defeat N'astirh, like Iceman creating a slide to hurl a falling Colossus directly at N'astirh. The art is pretty great throughout, I just with this was a normal-sized issue with a lot less ridiculous in-fighting.

MY SCORE: 8.2/10

Comics: New Mutants #73

NEW MUTANTS #73
March 1989
"The Gift"
Writer: Louise Simonson
Penciler: Bret Blevins
Inker: Al Williamson & Mike Manley
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

This issue pays off Magik pretty well, as her character falls fully prey to her dark side and then goes back to the light in a final sacrifice for the greater good of the world. It's a fine story that's only hindered by being all mystical and seemingly nonsensical (I'm really getting bored with all this stuff). I love these characters, so that gets me through it. The art is highly kinetic, emotive and fun. They really did a good job of saying farewell to Magik. Her storyarc with the Mutants feels complete after this and it's a shame that she had to be resurrected last year. This issue sets up the new status quo of Magik being reverted to her six year old (right?) self, which she will maintain until her death in 1993. That will then be undone in 2008. Oh well.

MY SCORE: 8.1/10

Comics: X-Factor #37

X-FACTOR #37
February 1989
"A Matter Of Honor"
Writer: Louise Simonson
Penciler: Walter Simonson
Inker: Bob Wiacek
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Petra Scotese
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

The length of "Inferno" seems to have taken its toll on Walt Simonson, who starts to turn in some lazier-than-normal pencils with this issue. Proportions are off, faces are weird, it's not that bad but also not as great as he usually is. Plus the entire issue is X-Factor and Madelyne Pryor playing hot potato with baby Christopher. It gets old and definitely didn't need a whole issue devoted to it. Once again, so much mystical mumbo jumbo is tossed around it's all kind hard to follow. The last page has a decent cliffhanger, with Wolverine's hand plopping down on Marvel Girl's shoulder. Who wouldn't want to read Uncanny X-Men #242 with the promise of a reunion?

MY SCORE: 7.9/10

Comics: X-Factor #36

X-FACTOR #36
January 1989
"Transformations!"
Writer: Louise Simonson
Penciler: Walter Simonson
Inker: Bob Wiacek
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Petra Scotese
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

This is a fine issue. Beast and Iceman battle a demonized subway train while Marvel Girl and Cyclops re-enter Manhattan by mini-jet and fight their way through tons of airborne goblins. Beast and Trish Tilby face each other after Beast's re-furry-ization and deal with that (she's okay with it eventually) and the original five X-Men are once again reunited on the last panel when Archangel (or Angel...or Death...can't remember what he's going by at this point) swoops in. Trish Tilby is a well-rounded character with as many strengths and weaknesses as the main cast and there's a real sense of importance in that last panel when the core X-Factor unit is reunited after almost a year's worth of issues spent apart.

MY SCORE: 8/10

Comics: Uncanny X-Men #241

UNCANNY X-MEN #241
February 1989
"Fan The Flames"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Marc Silvestri
Inker: Dan Green
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

Yeah, I'm about eight issues behind with these reviews. I'm going to try and speed through them and since they're all part of "Inferno," you can apply the following to pretty much every issue:

1. Including all the build-up, this story has gone on way too long.
2. I think Limbo and all the magic stuff is generally annoying and uninteresting.
3. It's cool seeing a lot of big and iconic plot points happening.

Okay, with all that out of the way I can say that this is another above-average issue of Uncanny. Even though the issue is essentially not much more than an extended fight scene between the X-Men and Marauders, the "not much more" involves Mr. Sinister telling Madelyne Pryor her origin. For that alone the issue is exciting, since as someone who came along way after Pryor's death it's interesting to see the beginning of her end. My biggest problem with this issue is the "demon" Colossus fights on page 19. It's...not a demon. It's one of the Right's armored goons from the pages of X-Factor that, well, looks nothing like a demon. It looks like a robotic egg with a smiley face and Colossus says that he's seen "his kind" before in Limbo. No, I don't think he has. Unless I'm missing something, there was some sorta miscommunication between editorial, Claremont and/or Silvestri.

So, a fine issue with a really weird error.

MY SCORE: 8.6/10

I wanna jinx it!

I am now starting to have a lot of fun in comedy. JINX. I'll probably hit slump town again. But I've had a nice streak of enjoyable shows, mostly due to the fact that I am trying to take ownership of my playing style (pretentious sounding, yep). I have been trying to play in a style completely opposite of how I naturally want to play for the past year, in an attempt to strengthen that side of my playing and get more real. But...it's been confusing and not a lot of fun. I think the goal now is to attack improv from the other direction. I am big characters, I am decisions, sometimes non-sequiters...but still, I'm not boring and I'm rarely the guy who figures it all out. I think I need to figure out how to play fearlessly and loudly with a dash of realism and sense, instead of the other way around. It's working so far so...keep it rolling. And my Spank is coming along. It's all written out now and going into second drafts. I'll be in the process of casting it and figuring the rest out soon. Now I need to get to work on a job.

RIGHT?! RIGHT.

I've also been helping out Will Hines with some UCB Comedy shoots, which has been awesome. I like making videos, and it's been a pleasure to help with them. Hope I can continue with this and all my other ambitious video-making friends. Here's one I helped with last week. I held the boom mic!

Comics: Uncanny X-Men #240

UNCANNY X-MEN #240
January 1989
"Strike The Match"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Marc Silvestri
Inker: Dan Green
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

The X-Men all begin their descent into madness in this issue. It starts with Madelyne Pryor and Havok on a date at the Rainbow Room in NYC, which turns bloody when the demonized building starts eating people just barely off-panel. Gateway teleports the couple back home and Madelyne then goes out, alone, in full Goblin Queen gear to visit and pout at Jean Grey's grave. Jean's parents happen across the grave and Madelyne turns them into demon henchmen out of anger. Back at the X-Men's Australian headquarters, Dazzler gets extremely mad when Rogue flirts with Longshot. And then Longshot gets upset when he realizes Dazzler considers him hers and, after being a slave for Mojo, doesn't like the idea of being possessed. Cut to the Nebraska orphanage that Cyclops and Jean visited a couple issues ago in X-Factor and Madelyne starts uncovering some secrets about her history. The X-Men then track the Marauders to the Morlock Alley and start getting some revenge. The issue ends with the reveal that Mr. Sinister believes Madelyne should call him...father!

Overall this is a good issue. Several plotlines lurch closer towards their climax, and the issue also includes a lot of slam-bang action. At first I was wondering why the X-Men were all of a sudden so blood thirsty for the Marauders. Sure the Marauders kicked the crap out of them before, but the X-Men have never really been about revenge. It's hinted at later that all of this is dark energy influencing the team. I like that Alex is insecure about his new relationship with Madelyne and I like that Colossus still feels remorse for killing Riptide (who is alive again, shockinlgy) back during the "Mutant Massacre." The end reveal is bold and it feels like all the loose threads that have been dangling for the last few years are coming together...even if this isn't what Claremont envisioned.

The art is fun. Silvestri turns in solid action work, even if his faces tend to be fairly flat when he shows them from a low angle...which he does a lot. But anyway, it's still fresh and crisp. Solid inking from the vet Dan Green helps, definitely. I don't really get why Madelyne Pryor's dress changes from panel to panel during her date with Havok. I'm assuming it's to show her dark mastery over matter, or evil sorcerous ways, and maybe to highlight the surrealness and creepiness of the date and her control over Havok's perception...but none of that is mentioned. It's subtle, so I will take it as intentional.

Good issue, and a lot better than the New Mutants and X-Terminators issues of this crossover since it doesn't focus on the demons as much as it does on the characters.

MY SCORE: 8.7/10

Comics: New Mutants #72

NEW MUTANTS #72
February 1989
"Demon Reign"
Writer: Louise Simonson
Penciler: Bret Blevins
Inker: Al Williamson
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

The New Mutants side of X-Terminators #4 is shown here, with us following Magik as she flees through the demonized Manhattan and the rest of the Mutants help dissolve the portal to Limbo above the city. I'm almost always a fan of comics that show other sides of the same story (like the improv form Tracers...and no one reading this review gets that reference...) so I got some enjoyment out of that. But on the whole, I feel that this issue is really just average. The characters are all acting like themselves, the plot is fine, and I get a geek thrill out of seeing the seeds of X-Force planted here with Boom Boom and Rictor going on their first mission with Cannonball and Sunspot. Nerd grin! Also Blevins' art wins me over as always. It's so youthful and kinetic, I really enjoy it. Where'd he go after New Mutants was up?

I don't really like most of the bits with Magik, like her getting a demonic makeover, and I also just generally don't care for magic based stories. So, "Inferno" is going to be rad, I can tell. I just think that magic based stories have no real rules that the reader knows. Like as a reader I can put a terrorist story or a bank robbery or anything that actually happens in real life in context. Magic based stories feel like you're playing a game with someone who keeps making up rules. Of course this defeats that, sure why not. There's no realism to back it up and it all just feels kinda fake. That's what most any battle between Magik and N'Astirh feels like. Also I have to wonder what modern coloring would do to this book. Reading these old comics I'm realizing how spoiled I am. Nowadays N'astirh would probably have texturized skin and scales, with gradients of disturbing brown. In 1989 he's just one big color block of brown. I'd love to see this stuff touched up now.

So another okay issue. Characters I'm biased towards liking and snappy art barely outweigh the fact that I'm getting tired of all this demonic mumbo-jumbo.

MY SCORE: 7.9/10

Comics: X-Terminators #4

X-TERMINATORS #4
January 1989
"Finale!"
Writer: Louise Simonson
Penciler: Jon Bogdanove
Inker: Al Milgrom
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Petra Scotese
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

Preposterous magickal computer aside, this climax is executed pretty well. The book's light-hearted side brings us some slapstick of Artie and Leech trying to, literally, unplug the magickal computer and also has Taki creating a huge gestalt of six flying planes for the X-Terminators to use in their assault on the demons and their mission to rescue to captured infants. It's all a lot of fun and, when put in context with the rest of the series, justified. The stakes are actually so high that I really felt that some characters were in jeopardy even though I knew no one was going to die. Skids' selfless declaration that she was going to save the infants was well-played and had the gravitas of a last act, as did Taki's last minute near self-sacrifice to stop N'astirh. And considering what Taki would go on to do (you know, nothing) he probably should have died in this issue.

This is also the first time that the New Mutants and X-Terminators meet, thus chaning all of their lives forever. With this team-up, the seeds of X-Force have been planted as all the characters invovled (except Warlock, Wolfsbane and, ugh, Gosamyr) would go on to be involved in the book as either members of the MLF or X-Force. It's a big moment, in a good way for us X-Force fans. Fans of the older New Mutants status quo probably felt that the intrusion of those other X-Teens was a jump the shark moment. But really, why are there two teams of teen X-Men running around? Maybe it's because I grew up considering Rusty, Skids, Boom Boom and Rictor all New Mutants, but I had to keep telling myself through this issue that the X-Terminators weren't New Mutants. The cover of this issue just looks like a New Mutants team photo.

I also have to note that Rictor still doesn't have much of a personality, but his new punk look is a step in the right direction. It seems that in most issues of X-Factor he was merely the other guy, with no personality. I don't know whose decision it was to have Ric dress himself in a leather vest and studded gloves, but that bad boy image would soon become his main character trait. I'm excited to watch his character grow into what I know him as, and I am curious as to which writer first started writing him that way.

Good issue, and a nice end to a fun mini-series.

MY SCORE: 8.1/10

Comics: New Mutants #71

NEW MUTANTS #71
January 1989
"Limbo"
Writer: Louise Simonson
Penciler: Bret Blevins
Inker: Al Williamson
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

The fantastical side of the X-Men universe has never really grabbed me, so spending all this time reading about Limbo and demons and spells is getting kinda tedious. Luckily all the great characters make it tolerable and somewhat entertaining. In this issue, the New Mutants try teleporting back to Earth by way of Limbo, but get stuck there due to the spell N'astirh's casting over in X-Terminators.

This issue mostly goes over stuff that was covered in Uncanny X-Men a hundred issues prior, but it's necessary since apparently Magik's teammates didn't even know her origin. These parts are well done, with Magik going just crazy enough and the rest of her teammates acting justifiably horrified.

And while I don't really care for all the demon stuff, it is still terrifying to see the transformed objects of Manhattan wreak havoc on tourists. The binoculars stealing a man's eyeballs for its own personal use and the elevator filled with blood and bones are illustrated with a manic glee by Blevins. Good work.

The stakes are set up well by Simonson, who ends the issue with a gateway to Limbo being left open over Times Square, raining demons all on it. This is essentially Magik's last story and it feels like it. There's a sense of dread and urgency, and the character feels like she's coming to a climax. It's well done. So, of course, she was resurrected earlier this year. Thanks, Marvel. Whooooah brother.

MY SCORE: 8/10

Comics: X-Terminators #3

X-TERMINATORS #3
December 1988
"Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?"
Writer: Louise Simonson
Penciler: Jon Bogdanove
Inker: Al Milgrom
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: John Wellington
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

The all-ages fun of a bunch of demons kidnapping babies and trying to eat them keeps on rolling with the latest issue of X-Terminators. I think this is the problem with mini-series; they are usually designed to tell a single story with a singular vision and tone, so for the most part the problems you have with one issue are there for all four. This one has the fine art that see-saws between overly cartoony and a classic workman style like the other two issues. It also has the same creepy mix of cartoony action and demons. The slapstick battles between the big kids and all the animated inanimate objects of New York City are fun, until you realize that it's hell energy animating them. Then it's creepy.

I do have a problem with N'astirh seriously thinking that a computer can help his spells because they have spell checkers on them. Now...I know that computers were as common as Bigfoot back then (man, 1988 you guys, Stone Age!) but doesn't N'astirh at least know that spell has two different meanings? Really? But looking past that, Taki's interactions with him are great and really show him having a cunning mix of snotty whininess and tactical thinking. I like Taki. Why did he disappear?

So yeah, it's an okay issue. It seems like it's an essential part of "Inferno" so far, but then again I might get into the actual story later and realize that all this could be covered by narration captions. For now it's fun. And way better than Fallen Angels.

MY SCORE: 7.9/10

WOOOOORK

I've fallen out of the habit of writing here everyday again, but is that such a big deal since all I was writing before were reviews of late '80s X-Men comics (those are coming back, by the way, I just have to read some first). Memorial Day weekend was long and fun, with pool parties and picnics and board games. I took the night off last night, which was both good and bad. I needed some me time but every time I take it I just feel awful. So I need to figure that one out. I guess seeing people everyday is a good thing, even if I don't think I feel up to it. I spend too much time getting all the figures on my desk to stand up. Psylocke and Gambit have been having some leaning problems lately. Hey guys, I'm not going to start a new paragraph! I watched all 9+ hours of the Beatles Anthology over the last day and a half. Wow, a lot of Beatles. I wish I had access to similar docs about the Rolling Stones and the Kinks. I'm writing sketches, I think I'll try writing one a day for a week. See if that works. I just need to get a body of work put together that I can really show to people and polish. I want a body of work.

Cash 4 Skulls

I can't believe I never posted this here. Here's Cash 4 Skulls, a commercial parody I shot with Laurel for my sketch 201 class show. Enjoy and share!

Comics: X-Terminators #2

X-TERMINATORS #2
November 1988
"Speed Demon!"
Writer: Louise Simonson
Penciler: Jon Bogdanove
Inker: Al Milgrom
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: John Wellington
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

This issue continues the weird mix of light-hearted slapstick and dark demonic hijinks that started last issue. Really most of this issue is like reading an adaptation of a fun Saturday morning cartoon (the kids use their powers to get money out of a Pepsi machine, they try on clothes, ride around in a flying car, etc). That's totally fine. I'm always a fan of comics addressing both where money AND costumes come from, as they seem to just be on hand when needed at all times. I like that this issue is dedicated to the team getting costumes, although I have no idea what store would sell the spandex top Rusty is wearing.

The light-hearted events are interrupted by a pretty harrowing subplot involving N'astirh's demons stealing babies. One kidnapping is preceded by a two-page build up that realistically introduces us to a young couple trying to cope with an economic downturn and a move to the suburbs. The two pages are really involved, with tons of dialogue that makes you sympathetic to the couple...only to have demons bite the crap out of the father's neck, spewing blood everywhere, before they fly off with the couple's baby. It's crazy dark and effective in selling the serious stakes of this mini even if it does come in between pages from Saved By The Bell: The Mutant Years.

So another okay issue with decent art and a quirky mix of the serious and the silly.

MY SCORE: 8/10

Comics: X-Terminators #1

X-TERMINATORS #1
October 1988
"Invasion Of The Baby-Snatchers"
Writer: Louise Simonson
Penciler: Jon Bogdanove
Inkers: Al Williamson & Al Milgrom
Letterer: Joe Rosen
Colorist: John Wellington
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

The wards of X-Factor star in their own limited series and play a part in launching "Inferno." This doesn't seem that gratuitous, although it surely must have at the time. Just five years earlier only Uncanny X-Men existed. Then in 1988, X-Fans all of a sudden have New Mutants, X-Factor, Wolverine and Excalibur to get every month. And now there's this, another mini-series. X-Fans of 1988, get ready. It only gets worse.

After reading X-Factor I have to say that the kids steal the show in most cases. Simonson clearly has fun writing them and they're a relief from some of the more melodramatic elements of the title. So here they are, in their own limited series. This issue, which follows Artie and Leech to a special school for younger kids and the four teens to a boarding school, is both fun and juvenile. It's very much an all-ages book with lots of slapstick and sometimes "Archie" like art from Jon Bogdanove. It is odd to have a book have both goofy action sequences and baby-snatching demons, and X-Terminators barely pulls it off. It never swings too heavily in either direction and plays down the middle as both an all-ages romp and an installment in a very sinister linewide crossover.

Taki's power is somewhat over the top and he reacts pretty calmly to finding out he's a mutant. Plus I'm shocked that that random school employee knows so much about demon lore to identify that Artie and Leech have been captured due to the effigies left behind. Maybe that was common knowledge in the '80s?

I love Boom Boom and Rictor and have a soft spot for Artie and Leech, so that adds a lot to my enjoyment of this issue. It's fine. And as long as it doesn't get as out of hand crazy as Fallen Angels, this will be a fun mini.

MY SCORE: 8/10

Comics: Uncanny X-Men #239

UNCANNY X-MEN #239
December 1988
"Vanities"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Marc Silvestri
Inker: Dan Green
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

And so it begins. After reading months of buildup in various titles, "Inferno" starts up here. This is a relatively quiet issue, with a decent amount of time spent on all the main team members and setting up the inner struggles that are plaguing them during this stretch of issues. The pacing works at building up tension since the issue starts with a very dark scene between Mr. Sinister and Malice. Just knowing that Sinister is out there scheming affects all the scenes with the X-Men that follow. The readers know a horrible challenge is coming and seeing all of our heroes in such emotional turmoil doesn't lead us to believe this is going to be a pleasant action romp. This is going to be tough.

The first couple pages of the issue follow a family visiting the Empire State Building in the slowly demonized New York City. An elevator eats the entire family, and a clueless janitor accidentally mops up all their blood. Wow, 1988, epic bloody win right there. Shock of shocks.

Havok is a very complex character and I like that Claremont has dusted off his old paranoia about his power using instances that recently occurred, like him trying to kill his possessed ex-girlfriend and a couple Brood aliens. I'm glad that his reckless actions are taking a toll on him.

Other than that, Storm gets freaked out because she finds out that Wolverine has been keeping the news of Jean Grey's resurrection secret and a sparring match between Psylocke and Rogue and Colossus gets a little too serious. Yep, our team isn't in the best of shape, putting them square into the underdog category. The issue ends with Madelyne's downright creepy seduction of Havok, which is expertly laid out by artist Marc Silvestri who manages to capture a dark atmosphere in the middle of a bright and scorching Australian summer. We then find out that Madelyne has gone nutso and is working with the demon N'astirh to kidnap a buncha babies.

Claremont's strong characterizations are again running amok all over this issue, and his wordiness is only a small problem (like during Havok's dream sequence, the art explained it all perfectly and was only hurt by all those flowery words). Silvestri's art is solid and despite my dislike of aspects of his sketchy style, it tells the story beautifully. Although seeing art like this in 1988 and knowing it's leading to the insane art of the early '90s...it's hard to appreciate something knowing it's going to inspire tons of crap imitators. It's like trying to listen to Nirvana and not hearing a bit of Puddle of Mudd in there.

MY SCORE: 8.6/10

The Features @ Piano's

I haven't seen the Features in almost two years, which when considering that I saw them roughly fifty times from 2001-2006, that's a big drought. A big drought. I still find it hard to rationalize that I now live a life almost completely void of this band, aside from listening to them on my iPod. They were my life in Tennessee, through message boards, friends, hanging out, flyering, going to shows, making mix CDs, it was just what me and my friends did. It was nice to have even more Tennessee friends up here than the last time they played in New York in 2007. It felt right being able to freak out and have a good time with some of the same people I freaked out with back in the Boro.

The show was great. It's nice to see that the band still brings it with every performance and that their onstage personas haven't dulled at all. They're all still highly energetic and captivating performers with tunes to back them up. I'm of course bummed that I can only hear album tracks now, as the spontaneity of the Features shows of yore was a large part of the appeal. Being able to yell out "Damage Is Done" and have them decide to play it after a year of not, or having the power go out to inspire an acoustic version of the seldom played "Bumblebee." But this show was definitely a solid show with a consistent set of songs, all of which had me freaking out. I really lost it to "Me & The Skirts," of all songs. I get nostalgic for that jam every time, maybe because I remember the first time I heard it and the bit we still do to this day when discussing it (thick country accent: "You see that all them sang on that song right there!"). I don't know, memories flooding back.

The Features play Brooklyn on Sunday night, at Union Hall. You should go.

Here are some pictures that Davis took. You can also fall in love, either again or for the first time, with this band daily at The Damage Is Done.

Comics: Excalibur #5

EXCALIBUR #5
February 1989
"Send In The Clowns"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Alan Davis
Inker: Paul Neary
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Editor: Terry Kavanagh
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

So pretty much all my complaints about last issue are in this one, since it's a continuation and conclusion of the story. Courtney Ross is still a solid character. I think I understand who Meggan was, personality wise. She was just a standard X-Woman when I read Excalibur in the mid-to-late '90s with no personality, but here I think I understand what made Claremont like her. She's very dependent, which is shown through her powers, and doesn't know her own strengths. It's good. The epilogue with Nightcrawler and Captain Britain's discussion about Meggan is tops, where they actually analyze a relationship that has real faults and isn't perfect. This stuff isn't addressed in comics...ever really. People date, then they sorta break up, get back together, etc. Or all their problems are power based or super hero based. Captain Britain and Meggan's relationship has a very real problem (Meggan needs Cap and he fears she doesn't exist outside of him). Nice. Also the ending, with Coutrney getting zapped by her other dimensional twin, is a great twist and pretty dark. Just what the issue needed after a dozen pages of silly running around with Alice in Wonderland characters.

And yeah, that's the problem with this issue. All mind-swapping and brainwashing malarky. I don't even get how Shadowcat frees Phoenix from mind control. She merges with her mind by actually phasing into her? Um? Does that work?

Also, this issue has talking custard pies.

A mixed bag. Claremont should stick to the drama, since that's what he does best.

MY SCORE: 7.8/10