Geek Culture Reviews

There’s more tactical espionage action as Mystique discovers her Destiny…   The first issue of Declan Shalvey’s Mystique mini-series flew out of the starting blocks like a bullet from a gun. Not only did we see what Mystique has been up to post Krakoa, Shalvey added in an espionage angle as Nick Fury Jr is hot on her tail. With Destiny as the focus point of this second issue, it’s becoming clear as to Mystique’s motivation.  Eagle-eyed readers will already clock from the cover who Mystique is dealing with in this issue as she takes the fight to Avalanche. As former member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Shalvey taps into this shared past to make their confrontation a personal one. As the duo battle in the snowy wilderness, there are plenty of cameos from other mutants as Mystique utilises everyone in her shape-shifting arsenal to tackle Avalanche. Her battle is also powered by her love for Destiny which is heightened further as Shalvey uses Destiny’s voice to show how dev...

Alison and her entourage head to London for the next stop of their tour, but someone has other plans… Dazzler is the one ‘ From The Ashes… ’ comic that surprised me. While the post-Krakoa narrative has so far centred on two separate X-Men teams, Wolverine, Mystique, and the new Sentinels, Dazzler wasn’t a character I’d have expected to steal the limelight of this new era. Even though we’re still dealing with the opening act to Jason Loo and Rafael Loureio ’s series, Dazzler has so far been the fun side to the all-encompassing ‘ From The Ashes… ’ narrative umbrella.  Taking place straight after her eventful concert in L.A., Alison heads straight backstage and wants answers from Scorpia. The wayward mutant doesn’t give up any names as to who hired her, but she does let slip that someone wants Dazzler’s concerts to fail. As Multiple Man takes Scopia off to the awaiting authorities, Alison has a catch-up with her beau, Dale, to then reveal that she’s off to London on the next stop of...

How to solve a problem like Mystique?  Another week, and we’ve got yet another new X-Men-related release under the “ From the Ashes… ” umbrella. This time we’re catching up with Mystique as she aims to show the world why she is one mutant that should be feared. Holding Mystique’s reigns for this outing is Declan Shalvey, who takes the shape-shifting mutant into the espionage world of Nick Fury.  How it all comes together? Well, come with me as I find out… First off there’s very little story within this opening that gives away what exactly Mystique is up to. All we know is that she’s after something (or someone) called “Protozoa” and Maverick has intel on where this mysterious MacGuffin is located. As such we follow Mystique as she heads off to Germany to lure Maverick to her. Deciding to portray herself as Sabertooth, it isn’t long before Mystique and Maverick meet and a bloody - yet quick - battle ensues.   We then switch perspective to Nick Fury Jr as he’s bogged down ...

“From the Ashes” continues as the X-Men have a close encounter… The new “ From the Ashes ” era of the X-Men has officially begun and there’s already an abundance of different stories at play. While the likes of Uncanny X-Men and X-Factor have their tone of storytelling, for the mainstream X-Men narrative Jed MacKay and Ryan Stegman keep things simple. So far we’ve seen Scott Summers and his ragtag group set up base in the frozen wilds of Alaska, to then venture back into the world to save mutant-kind once again.  For this second issue, we’re thrown into an alien invasion as a fleet of spacecraft descends on San Francisco in search of a new mutant. On the other side are Scott and the X-Men who are also tracking the same mutant. As both sides clash the real question is; how does it all fit into the wider X-Men picture?  As the story goes this issue flows pretty well as we see the X-Men team battle this new threat. It’s almost business as normal as MacKay shows off how effec...

An all new X-Men series launches from Marvel Comics this week and we’ve got the official preview below… “FROM THE ASHES! Krakoa is gone, ORCHIS has fallen…but the X-Men remain, always. Cyclops leads, because that is what he does. Beast builds, because that is what he does. And from their new home in Alaska, the X-Men raise a flag of defiance. Mutant business is their business. Join CYCLOPS, BEAST, MAGNETO, PSYLOCKE, KID OMEGA, TEMPER, MAGIK and JUGGERNAUT as new forces in the world move into position, battling for the destiny and philosophy of the mutant species” X-Men #1 is set for release this Wednesday, July 10th. 

Rise of the Powers of X #1 heads to comic book shops next week, and you can check out the preview from Marvel Comics below… THE FIGHT FOR KRAKOA HAS BEEN LOST! Ten years ago, the mutants returned from their exile to try and reclaim the Earth from the forces of Orchis. They failed. Now, within the victorious Orchis with their gauntlet choking the world, Nimrod and Omega Sentinel put their plan within a plan into action. They are to summon their binary god to consume everything in their accession. All that stands between them is the X-Men. What can they do? They’re the X-Men. They’ll find a way. That’s their power. So begins a story beyond time and space, with the rise of powers beyond our petty human intelligence. From writer Kieron Gillen (IMMORTAL X-MEN, UNCANNY X-MEN) and artist R.B. Silva (POWERS OF X, CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH) comes half of the story that will bring the Krakoa Age to its conclusion! Rise of the Powers of X #1 is set to be released on 10th January 

Rob reviews X-Men #9... The current X-Men series has been a bit of a tough read. While the series seems to be working towards something, just what this something is, is still unclear. Granted there have been some pretty heavyweight issues, but for the majority, X-Men acts as if it's a companion to an unreleased series.  X-Men #9 is more of the same, although it doesn't stop trying to push us towards the unknown. At its heart,  X-Men #9 is a more political issue than its predecessors. We see delegates from Krakoa, Phobos, and Arrako, attempt to deal with the Orchis threat whilst attempting to push their agenda. That's not to say that there aren't any standout moments, and to be fair this issue has a few of them.  Seeing Nimrod essentially break M.O.D.O.K. out of Area-51 is nothing but a visual feast. Not only does it work to advance the Orchis plot, but it also works to add strength to the organisation. The image of a snarling M.O.D.O.K. standing defiant be...

Judgement Day is at hand for the Avengers, X-Men, and Eternals... Marvel have given us a look at its summer epic with a look at Judgement Day. Writer Kieron Gillen and artist Valerio Schitti are set to lead these three teams through their most dangerous event yet. ' The X-Men have achieved immortality and mutants have taken their place as the dominant species on the planet. The Eternals have discovered long hidden knowledge about their species, including a devastating truth about mutantkind. The Avengers have come into direct conflict with the Celestials and are currently using a fallen Celestial as their base of operations, slowly unlocking its secrets… When the Eternals brazenly target the mutant nation of Krakoa, the Avengers try desperately to de-escalate a potentially apocalyptic war. But this is no simple conflict. The Eternals’ purpose cannot be denied and mutantkind’s future will not be threatened. And after the opening battles, new pl...

Rob reviews X-Men: The Trial Of Magneto #1... The Trial Of Magneto #1 launches this new X-Men arc into the spotlight with plenty of emotional turmoil. The death of Scarlet Witch was always going to be a tough one to bear. As such her demise will no doubt be felt across the wider Marvel Universe for a considerable time to come. The Trial Of Magneto however deals with this on a more intimate level and centres upon the X-Men.  The title of this opening issue is a bit of a red herring. Naturally, Magneto features within the issue, but he's not the stories focal point. Writer Leah Williams utilises a few fringe X-Men characters who all spend their fair time within the stories spotlight. It's an interesting way to tell the story and it doesn't rely upon epic action scenes. What we do have is a tale of loss, and it's one that's felt far and wide.  Magneto's time to shine comes from playing politics with the rest of the Krakoan leadership. As any father wou...

Rob reviews X-Men #2... This new X-Men team has already been through quite a lot and we're only two issues in! This new team was set-up in the wake of the Arrako event and as such they're here to save the world - and sway the Human perception on Mutants at the same time.  This second issue fires a new threat towards the X-Men. Much like the events seen within issue #1, its a potential Earth shattering enemy thats on par with some of the old Marvel greats. With The Avengers nowhere in site it's down to the new Team-X to save the day. The big bad this time is one Cordyceps Jones. There's a bug intergalactic card game at hand, and Earth has found itself on the table. The plan is that whoever destroys the planet first is the games winner. However, like any table-top card game there's plenty of "event" cards that can be played to modify the situation. Sadly for Earth this comes in the form of the 'Annihilation Wave', which happens to be this...