ENGLENTINE

When I was way younger than I am now, I remember loving this book. I picked it up since back in the day being an X-men fan was the thing to do. It basically is a recruitment issue. Still, it has elements to it that make it more fun than your regular, put the team together for world domination. Actually, the team is put together with a promise of no combat missions. That doesn't last long, but it sure does make it a better book in the begining. So grab onto this puppy if you can find it. It's Marvel bac when Marvel was fun.

For as good as the first one was, I didn't really like the second as much. I didn't exactly hate it, but it wasn't really essential to the ongoing story, or so it seemed. I did'nt mind the battle so much as to the lack of any explanation as to what was going on. The entire issue seemed messy. I like the premise, and I will stick with this to the end. I just hope more issue are like Issue 1, and not the follow up issue. Still it was kind of cool seeing Mockingbird back in action after so long.

Luke Cage here is acting just like I have always hated to see Superheroes acting. Seriously, count the number of fights you have read because someone didn't agree, or see it the other guys way. Here Luke Cage is willing to throw away his marriage and his life with his child, because he doesn't want to register. I feel that is pure selfishness. At least the issue tried to handle this mature story pretty well. I wouldn't have expected it. I hope Luke does come around. Although it did make for a pretty interesting read this time around.

I have read so many of the Ultimate books, that i almost didn't catch the joke about Nick Furys disguise. I was just so used to seeing him like that. Not a bad way to start off the issue, or the mission. Obviously Bendis is a fan of the movie The Untouchables, since he basically uses dialogue straight from the movie.
The rest of the issue is your typical recruitment issue. Not bad, but we have all seen it before. No big reveals.

This book is basically a way for the fine creators to answer a lot of the fan mail sent in to them. It is also a way to lighten the mood for the big war that is pending. I liked some of the segments, some I did not care as much for. I guess that is to be expected from a anthology like book. The humor is kept up. Actually each story is played like a joke with it's own punchline at the end. My favorite being the one about Bufkin , and how he gets into the liquor cabinet. A fun if not completely quality balanced issue.