Top 10 2008: Comics

10. SECRET INVASIONIssues #1-8 / Written by Brian Bendis, Art by Leinil Yu

You'll note that this is the only Skrull-related comic in the top ten, mostly because I was absolutely green in the face (PUNZ) after about two months of all the wrinkly-chinned hullabaloo. It got old, Marvel. And yeah, as the flagship series this series weighed way too heavily on slow-paced action and not enough on big reveals or characterization...or plot really. But okay, the art was amazing, the entire creative team was A-list (Mark Morales and Laura Martin rounded out the team, and they're the biggest inker and colorist working today) and the kick-off issue was downright paranoid glee. Good stuff and, as a whole, a bit more sturdy than Civil War. So that's it, no more Skrulls on this list. For the most part.

9. UNCANNY X-MEN
Issues #494-505 / Written by Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction, Art by Mike Choi, Greg Land and Terry Dodson

A lot of Uncanny's 2008 was spent with its wheels furiously spinning around with the car parked in neutral (that car metaphor works, right?). The great "Messiah Complex" storyline of 2007 ended and, well, led into five months of farting around until the fancy and multiple-covered 500th issue. Since then things have been slowly improving, with Fraction (and a bit of Brubaker) bringing in a bunch of slow-burning plots that all seem to be destined to dovetail together in a big ol' Claremont-ian event of awesomeness. Along with having a downright retro feel, the book is also breaking new ground with the current San Francisco locale change which has made a huge impact on the line as a whole. It's not great yet, and Fraction can do great things, so I'm looking forward to 2009.

8. ASTONISHING X-MEN
Issues #24-27 and Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1 / Written by Joss Whedon and Warren Ellis, Art by John Cassaday and Simone Bianchi

The stellar Whedon and Cassaday run came to an end with a truly epic moment and probably the biggest sacrifice the X-Men have endured since...well, the first death of Phoenix. There's not much more I can say about that part of Astonishing's run that I haven't said before. Whedon ruled, Cassaday did the best art any x-book has seen in a long time, the only problem was with the book's scheduling and the fact that the big climax was ruined in the other titles a month before said issue hit. Following that team's run was going to be hard, but Ellis and Bianchi haven't done...horribly. Okay, Bianchi's art is...odd...but I always appreciate Ellis' insane take on tradition and his seeming respect for continuity. This is no longer the flagship title but under Ellis, it's an okay one.

7. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON EIGHT
Issues #10-20 / Written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard, Art by Georges Jeanty and Karl Moline

2008 was split between two storylines, one stellar and one fun, and a couple one-off issues that were all enjoyable. Drew Goddard's "Wolves at the Gate" really nailed the humor, conflict and bloody death that made the best episodes of Buffy memorable. The more recent "Time of Your Life" crossed over with Fray, a series that I just read. This was plagued by a bit of a delay, a fact that hurt the story a lot since I had no clue what Fray was all about. I now do. The storyline was better in retrospect. Big things are coming in Buffy, and I'm stoked.

6. CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI: 13
Issues #1-8 / Written by Paul Cornell, Art by Leonard Kirk

If you had told me a year ago that a series starring Captain Britain and a bunch of D-List English heroes would be in my top ten list of 2008, above two X-Books, I would have said something ridiculously sarcastic, rolled my eyes and walked away asking myself why you even bothered talking to me. And now, here we are, stepping into 2009 and Captain Britain is one of my most-anticipated books each month. Solid art, intricate and careful characterization and some big ol' action with a shot of the UK added in. It's a pretty great read month in and month out and MI: 13 is becoming a ragtag group of heroes up there with the old school X-Factor team. Good stuff.

5. RUNAWAYS
Volume 2 Issues #29-30, Volume 3 Issues #1-5 / Written by Joss Whedon and Terry Moore, Art by Michael Ryan and Humberto Ramos

This book spent most of 2007...um...not coming out, so it was nice to have seven months of Runaways in 2008. Both of the creative teams lacked what the other had and vice versa. Michael Ryan has the strong storytelling that Humberto Ramos lacks, but Ramos makes up for it with tons of attitude and charisma. And while Terry Moore is crafting a story that feels much more like Runaways than Whedon's time travel story, there's no denying that Whedon's run was much funnier and snappier. So, you know, good and bad. Overall I'm ecstatic about where this book is going, especially because it's coming out regularly again. Moore may not be as flashy or buzzworthy as Whedon, but he really appreciates these characters and knows how to craft stories with them. The future is bright.

4. X-FACTORIssues #27-38, Layla Miller and Quick & The Dead one-shots / Written by Peter David, Art by Pablo Raimondi, Valentine De Landro and Larry Stroman

The first half of 2008, X-Factor was experiencing a creative rebirth. Wolfsbane's departure yielded one of the series' best issues and led into one of its best storylines with "The Only Game in Town." That arc was aptly named as it was the only X-Book to really kick the events of "Messiah Complex" into high gear instead of sitting around for five months. The two one-shots spotlighting Quicksilver and the time-displaced Layla Miller were real highlights, especially Layla Miller. And then...well, the team moved to Detroit and lost a lot of its appeal. This coincided with the awkward return of Larry Stroman, a move that was highly anticipated and ended up disappointing. With 2008's close, Stroman has departed and Peter David has acknowledged the series' slide. He promises that things are going to pick up and with Madrox and Siryn's baby being born right now, well, I believe him.

3. ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN
Issues #118-129 / Written by Brian Bendis, Art by Stuart Immonen

Yeah, this is probably the best this book has ever been. Stuart Immonen's art is perfectly suited for the title and the fresh energy he has brought to Spidey has completely rejuvenated Bendis' writing. Venom, Gwen Stacy, last month's arrest of Aunt May...everything is illustrated with a detailed urgency unlike any this series has ever seen. Bagley was great, yeah, but this title really needed an offbeat artist to make it stand out. The teenage angst has never been this palpable. This is the only "Ultimate" book that matters.

2. X-MEN/X-MEN: LEGACY
Issues #207-219 / Written by Mike Carey, Art by Scot Eaton

This is also the title everyone either loved or hated in 2008. I, obviously, fell on the "love it" side. Of course I'm obsessed with continuity, so Mike Carey going back and fixing past wrongs and making every bit of mutant minutiae make sense had me in giggle fits every month. We saw Hazard again this year, people! Hazard! He appeared like, once! Fifteen years ago! Awesome! But seriously, Carey's doing all this while telling a smart story and making Professor X a relatable and complex character. Plus, you know, Gambit came back and didn't suck. So, that was cool. The Legacy setup is ending soon I think, and Carey said the book is going to change into something else that has never been seen in this corner of the Marvel Universe. I'm excited to see where this book goes.

1. AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
Issues #546-581 / Written by Dan Slott, Bob Gale, Zeb Wells, Marc Guggenheim, Joe Kelly and Mark Waid, Art by Steve McNiven, Salvador Larroca, Phil Jimenez, Chris Bachalo, Barry Kitson, Marcos Martin, Mike McKone and John Romita Jr.

Thirty-six issues. This one comic alone shipped three times the amount it normally does in a year and somehow managed to make every one of them (of the twenty I read) the most worthy additions to the legendary Spider-Man mythos that I've read in my long tenure reading comics. The writers and artists listed up there are not only among the best in the industry, they're among my personal favorites. Slott and Romita Jr.'s "New Ways to Die" arc was a thrilling read every week, an arc that successfully re-purposed Eddie Brock and brought him back from obscurity. Marcos Martin's page layouts during his two storylines ("Peter Parker, Paparazzi" and "Unscheduled Stop") were divine, his completely unparalleled and unique vision of the webhead surely inspiring artists all over the country to give it a try. And of course, I can't say enough about all of Chris Bachalo's work on the title, especially his arc with writer Joe Kelly. Their two-part "Family Ties" arc was simply, well, amazing. Spider-Man's one-liners had never been so hilarious and his look had never been so abstractly exhilirating. In all of Marvel Comics, there really is none better when you look at the monumental goal they set for themselves by deciding to publish thirty-six issues in a year and see how they succeeded. And no, "One More Day" did NOT need to happen and Peter Parker SHOULD still be with Mary Jane, but "Brand New Day" is the best thing that could have happened to Spider-Man. Things are only going to get better.

Comics: 1-23-08

ASTONISHING X-MEN v.3 #24
Writer: Joss Whedon
Artist: John Cassaday
Colorist: Laura Martin
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Assistant Editor: Will Panzo
Associate Editor: Nick Lowe
Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

And so it ends. Actually, the story isn't ending; the uncalled for Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1 is the actual end. But for Joss Whedon and John Cassaday on Astonishing X-Men, this is it. So much promise that led to so little. As a series, Astonishing X-Men has been both consistently great and consistently horrifyingly frustrating. To have two giant talents, maybe the best creative team the x-books have seen in decades, waste their time telling what is essentially four stories over a period of four years is despicable.

The first issues of this series that came out when I was still working at a movie theater (a.k.a. my FIRST JOB EVER, to let you know how long this has taken) got a lot of genuine emotion out of me by referencing and feeling like the simpler days of Chris Claremont's run. Comparing the two was absolutely the wrong thing to do. At the time (2004, remember, that last presidential election?), stories always took 6 issues to tell since the trade paperback fad had just started. This was fine back then, although tedious. It was fine because most of these issues came out monthly. A monthly schedule was never even possible with Astonishing (a book that should have published 45 issues on a monthly schedule). Just look at Chris Claremont and Paul Smith's classic run on Uncanny X-Men in 1983, a run that is referenced on the first page of this series. In 11 issues the X-Men fight the Brood in outer space, the Morlocks in the sewers, Silver Samurai in Japan, and the "resurrection" of the Phoenix herself. In 11 issues. Oh, and there were two single issue stories to boot.

So okay, six issue storylines with glacial storytelling was fine in 2004. But something happened during the four years it took for this story to be told. Comics shifted back the other way. The pace of Marvel quickened so much that the other x-books basically left Astonishing in the dust, reincorporating the books characters into other pages. Great. Astonishing X-Men, a truly great and potentially classic book, is completely outdated by the time it ends. And we do not, by any means, need a giant-sized finish, especially since it takes the creators months on end to finish a normal sized issue. Disappointing.

But on to the issue at hand. I find it hard to review this title every month because it takes forever for an issue to come out. I've forgotten the motivations and happenings of months previous. But this issue is fine. Really great art, nice dialogue, it's all enjoyable. The wit and old school thrills this book usually supplies (and uses to almost make up for the dreadful delays) are absent this month, so I'd actually say this is the weakest issue of the series.

Such high hopes, ending with such a whimper. Time will be kind to this series, since it will forever be read in one sitting in a hardback bound edition. However, I'll forever be one of the thousands that remember what a long four years it has been.

MY SCORE: 8.3/10


THE ORDER #7
"7: Namor --or--The Desperate Hour"
Writer: Matt Fraction
Penciler: Barry Kitson
Inker: Jon Sibal & Barry Kitson
Colorist: Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic, Soto & Studio F's Antonio Fabela
Letterer: Artmonkeys Studios
Assistant Editor: Alejandro Arbona
Editor: Warren Simons
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

I love The Order. In seven issues, this series has given us seven well rounded individuals all with fresh takes on being super heroes. It's rare that a series comes along and is this solid from the get go. So, of course, The Order is canceled as of issue #10.

This is another solid installment in the series and I love that the framing device for the first six issues (interview sessions) becomes the main event in this one, as Anthem squares off against Namor. The pacing is brilliant, the flash back splashes done by Kitson are great and tie in wonderfully to the conversation, and the characterization of Namor is the best I've ever read. For a star making event, this one sure does the trick for Anthem and The Order. The art is not so good, which illustrates just how much difference an inker makes. Regular inker Mark Morales is replaced by Jon Sibal and Kitson himself, and neither of them come close to making the pencils look decent. The book has a weird Image feel to it, while also being vaguely recognizable as the strong penciler Kitson is. It's odd.

Another well above average issue. With Marvel producing no other all-new team books right now, they should be proud that The Order has done such a phenomenal job of introducing viable and worthy new additions to their universe. Instead they're being canned until a writer with my opinion resurrects them in a couple years time.

MY SCORE: 8.7/10


SHE-HULK v.2 #25
"The Whole Hero Thing 1"
Writer: Peter David
Penciler: Shawn Moll
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Colorist: Avalon's Rob Ro
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Production: Rich Ginter
Assistant Editor: Thomas Brennan
Editor: Stephen Wacker
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

"Beasts of the Field"
Writer: Peter David
Penciler: Adriana Melo
Inker: Mariah Benes
Colorist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Dave Sharpe

"What the Hell is Going On With Her Comic Book?"
Writer: Peter David
Penciler: Val Seimeiks
Inker: Dave Meikis
Colorist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Assistant Editor: Tom Brennan
Editor: Stephen Wacker
The Reason We Did This: Joe Quesada & Dan Buckley

25th issue, 3 stories. The main story starts David's second arc on the title and, finally, we're starting to get a glimpse of the type of She-Hulk stories he wants to tell. Jazinda is becoming multi-dimensional and setting her up as the moral opposite of She-Hulk is quite fascinating, considering they've both basically swapped their ideals. I totally believe that She-Hulk would want to ignore a gamma irradiated alien looking for help, and I think it's a very strong character choice. The issue has some low points (the wink-wink humor of the couple striking down their camp after being attacked by an alien) that really make me miss Dan Slott, but overall David is not ignoring the previous setup and is making his work.

The art is getting worse, though. This issue featured She-Hulk's thong straps sticking out from her low-cut velvet (?) bell bottom pants. No. No no no. There is nothing more gratuitous, unnecessary, and degrading as thong straps sticking out from low-cut velvet (?) bell bottom pants. It's a horrible reminder of super hero comics' disgusting tendency towards idiotic T&A and I hate that it is now in She-Hulk. There was something charming about her old one-piece bathing suit and sneakers outfit, I miss it. I really miss it now that She-Hulk looks like a WWE hooker.

The back-up strips aren't important, the second one being the type of thing I hate at Marvel. I don't know if it's the cynicism of comic book fans nowadays, but I hate all Marvel staff in jokes. It's odd since I think stuff like this done in the 60s (the Merry Marvel Marching Society, Bullpen Bulletins, etc.) was awesome. I guess I hold Stan Lee & co. in much higher regards than Joe Quesada and "what the heck does he do" Dan Buckley.

She-Hulk is getting more interesting. A change in wardrobe would be nice.

MY SCORE: 8.6/10


X-MEN v.2 #207
"Messiah Complex 13 of 13"
Writer: Mike Carey
Penciler: Chris Bachalo
Inkers: Tim Townsend with Victor Olazaba, Jon Sibal and Al Vey
Colorist: Brian Reber with Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Cory Petit
Assistant Editor: Will Panzo
Editor: Nick Lowe
Executive Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley

And so it ends. I am so glad that it was Mike Carey and Chris Bachalo that finished this story out. They've been putting out the most consistent x-book since they started their run back in late 2006. I feel that this issue actually wraps up a lot more than just "Messiah Complex." The students now seem to be close to full-fledged X-Men, Cyclops was finally able to overcome the guilt he's felt about what he did by leaving Cable in the future by giving Cable the baby, and Rogue's insane power levels have been brought back down to normal. Oh, and there's a new mutant birth. It's not made clear where the baby came from, if it is or isn't Phoenix (it is a girl with red hair and green eyes, ugh), and whether or not more mutant births will happen. I don't know, in a way I'm okay with those issues not being resolved. This crossover was about the baby and the baby is now safe. And as far as endings go, it doesn't get more definitive than murdering Professor X. For real. This is the first time he's been dead (not in space, in jail, missing, or depowered) since the 60s, unless I'm missing something. The art is great, but I'm a big Bachalo fan so that's to be expected from me.

There are some negatives. While I do believe that Emma Frost would be okay with her students using their powers with deadly accuracy, I don't believe that they would be so eager to go along with it. Yeah, Dust displays some discomfort at seemingly murdering Exodus, if he can even die, but I would think she would straight up disobey that order. The same goes for Pixie who has been portrayed as extremely juvenile and scared, now she's murdering the Malice-possessed Karima (poor Karima by the way, guess no one told Pixie she was an X-Man). I'm also a little bit distraught at what's become of poor Bishop. He went crazy. He lost an arm. He killed Professor X. Bishop has been a fairly important X-Man since he first appeared around 16 years ago and to see this happen to him, it's sad. I'd almost rather him get the embarrassing "eaten by Predator-X" death I thought had befallen him at the beginning of the issue.

As an issue, on the whole, this one is okay. There are some great moments and some solid art, even though a lot of it clearly feels like chess pieces being moved into place. Even though that manipulation feels bad, I do like that all of the solicits in the back of the issue genuinely spring from this event; we're not getting another "Decimation" esque brush off. I like that the x-books finally have a cohesive world to exist in again.

And also, can anyone else explain where Professor X's dead body goes on the next to last page? The last panel shows the X-Men mourning him, but his body has totally disappeared. Bachalo messed up? Isn't that a pretty big mess up?

MY SCORE: 8.7/10

Hype Machine: August 2007

Time to take a look at Marvel's comic book solicitations for August. I'm definitely not buying many of these books, but I can still gripe about them!

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #112
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils by STUART IMMONEN
Cover by STUART IMMONEN & RICHARD ISANOVE
There is a huge explosion in the side of the Triskelion—the side housing superhuman criminals. And from the acrid smoke emerges a man seething with vengeance—a man who wants Peter Parker dead! That man is Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin! And for the web-spinner, things are about to get out of control. All this and the Shocker, too! Ya can’t miss it!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

You know what, I can miss it, but the promise of More Money August (still searching for a better name) means I will be there for this, the return of the Ultimate Green Goblin. Here's hoping he comes back as many times as his Marvel Universe counterpart...which I think is only one time. Okay, I'm a little fuzzy on my Spidey facts. I'm more interested in seeing how Stuart Immonen handles the drawing chores. He's a phenomenal penciler and designer, I just don't know how he's going to fit in with this all ages apeal book.

ULTIMATE X-MEN #85
Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
Pencils and Cover by YANICK PAQUETTE
The X-Men have only been reformed for mere days, and they’re already in the middle of a national crisis. The Sentinels have been reactivated—mutants are once again hunted and killed like animals. But who's controlling them this time—and what does it have to do with the newly-formed Mutant Liberation Front?
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

For Pete's sake, Ultimate Universe! Grow an original idea! I'm sure the M.L.F. are going to actually be time-traveling gnomes from Nightcrawler's home dimension, all with Wolverine hairdos in an attempt to seem edgy (like Kirkman turning Cable into a future version of Wolverine). But for reals, why must everything be rehashed? Did no one get super powers in this universe that doesn't already have them in the main Marvel one? But seriously, if Kirkman does Ultimate versions of Wild Side, Reaper, Tempo and Forearm, I'm way so there. I have a soft spot for that league of buffoons.

AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL #11
Written by TOM DEFALCO
Pencils and Cover by RON FRENZ
Not only has Carnage captured her father and baby brother, but Spider-Girl realizes that its new host is someone she knows! Guest-starring Kaine and Darkdevil!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

You know how you always walk into conversations just as someone is talking about sucking on their mother's pig feet? You know the wrong time? Out of context? That's what this is to me. Kaine? Darkdevil? Is Halloween Jack far behind?

BLACK PANTHER #30
Written by REGINALD HUDLIN
Penciled by FRANCIS PORTELA
Cover by ARTHUR SUYDAM
"GOOD EATIN" Part 3
After taking a wrong turn on the dimensional super highway, the New Fantastic Four have just become the daily special in the Zombie Universe! Seated at table one: Zombie Galacti! At table two: Zombie Skrulls! And at table three: a Zombie Monster from the Negative Zone! Well the Black Panther, Storm, the Human Torch and the Thing better come up with a perfect escape plan…or are they destined to be zombified.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Marvel's done it! They know what sells more than Wolverine and his new sidekick, Topless Chick With Big Guns (And By Guns We Mean Boobs That Shoot Bullets); zombies. And more specifically, zombies of super heroes. And now that they've started popping up in the main Marvel universe (away from poorly constructed crossovers with other companies), there's no stopping them. "Zombies: The Initiative," "Civil War X: Zombie Battalion," "Marvel Adventures starring General Zombie," "Astonishing X-Corpse," "World War Z," the list goes on and on. And that last one was stolen. I'm just looking forward to the Power Pack/Zombie crossover. It's about time Mass Master got what was coming to him.

HEROES FOR HIRE #13
Written by ZEB WELLS & FRED VAN LENTE
Penciled by CLAY MANN & JOHN BOSCO
Cover by SANA TAKEDA
The Heroes for Hire find themselves in the middle of World War Hulk when their mission to Hulk's stoneship leaves them on the Warbound's death list! It's divide-and-conquer as each hero is hunted by a member of the Jade Giant's band of alien soldiers.
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

This is the cover that's causing a big ol' roar, mainly due to it's allusion to tentacle rape. That's a link to Wikipedia, by the way. I don't go anywhere dirty while at work. Bets are off at home. Oh yeah... What am I doing...? Next.

MS. MARVEL #18
Written by BRIAN REED
Penciled by AARON LOPRESTI
Cover by GREG HORN
A new story arc begins as Ms. Marvel drafts two recruits from the Initiative…Machine Man and Sleepwalker?! When Araña is kidnapped, it's time for Carol Danvers to use her newly expanded strike force to squash an evil that's hit too close to home! The ongoing team of writer Brian Reed and artist Aaron Lopresti kicks off the three-part "Puppets" with a last-page reveal that'll have fans of female heroes buzzing!
32 PGS./Rated A …$2.99

Sleepwalker! Ha! I love that Marvel is starting to embrace the f***ing insanity that was the early 90s. Anyone remember Slapstick? Or Death's Head? Or Dark Angel? The Darkhold Redeemers? Vengeance? Motormouth and Killpower? Everything 2099? Bring them on, Marvel!

NEW WARRIORS #3
Written by KEVIN GREVIOUX
Pencils by PACO MEDINA
Cover by NIC KLEIN
Sofia and Wondra face off as the New Warriors respond to Tony Stark’s offer of amnesty. But will they accept or reject it? Meanwhile, Detectives Sykes and Givens uncover a shocking mystery about the death of the original New Warriors, and a former member may hold the key. Plus, Wolverine shows up…and he ain’t happy!
32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

So M-Day happens and all the mutants on Earth, save 198ish, are left powerless. Except for Iceman, who got his powers back immediately. And Polaris, who lasted a couple more months. And Professor X, who just got his back. Chamber, who was repowered by Apocalypse. Feral, Wild Child, and Thorn. Oh, and Layla Miller says she lost her real powers, but now she has new ones. And Quicksilver is going around repowering people too, now that he has his powers back, sorta. Sticking in the grand tradition of making things stick, here's the new New Warriors series starring Night Thrasher whose death led to the Civil War. That big thing that Marvel shoved down our throats for a year. And. Here. He. Is. Again. Alive. In the fourth series to bear the name New Warriors. At least Bucky is still dead. Oh, wait...

And, lastly, a special section dedicated to the two Joss Whedon solicits.

RUNAWAYS #28
Written by JOSS WHEDON
Penciled by MICHAEL RYAN
Cover by JO CHEN
“DEAD END KIDS”
Super-star JOSS WHEDON (Astonishing X-Men, Buffy) and rising star MICHAEL RYAN (New Excalibur, New X-Men) continue their landmark run. Pun intended. Love is in the air as the Runaways try and run back from 1907.
Part 4 (of 6).32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

ASTONISHING X-MEN #23
Written by JOSS WHEDON
Pencils and 50/50 Covers by JOHN CASSADAY
“UNSTOPPABLE”
The end is near. The situation is dire. The outlook is bleak. But Cyclops has a plan.
Part 5 (of 6).32 PGS./Rated T+ …$2.99

Wow, Marvel is really trusting on his name to sell those issues. After reading those summaries, you can only be certain of this: stuff happens and it will be awesome. My favorite is Astonishing's which is comparable to the Rambo tagline "The first was for himself. The second for his country. This time it's for his friend." Things are near, dire, and bleak, but Cyclops has a plan. Woo wee, I'm first in line for that one! Actually, I am. The solicit could be "JOSSWHEDONLOLZ!!!11" and I would buy it.

August is going to be the most awesome month.