Quote: Iron man to duane “Are you sure your from the government?”

Synopsis

Whirlwind the mutant super villain and long time avengers foe debut a shiny new suit (damn sweet looking suit too) while he makes a daring daytime bank robbery. Before he can make off with the cash though, earths mightiest + justice and firestar decide to foil his attempt at grand larceny. This of course does not go as planned as they literally fall all over each other; Quicksilver attacks and gets snagged by spider woman’s psi-webs and almost blasted by Magdalene, sandman gets thrown at submariner, swordsman is halted by herc as herc disrupts crystal’s wind trap causing them all to end up in a wild world wind. Hawkeye scream orders the whole time and when whirlwind makes a break for it. Starfox and machine man race to grab him and binary shoots off his arm. (lol that was so sad it was funny!). The avengers then bicker about what just happened all this while the press has caught the whole thing on tape and it ends up all over the news ( talk about bad press).
The founders then have another meeting this time meeting with new security liaison Duane Jerome Freeman. (cool a black dude in an important job long before obama lol….ok that was lame even for me….) they discuss the simple fact that they need to cut the roster to a manageable/serviceable team. We also learn that 8 avengers have already left to peruse their normal lives and interests. Of the founders Hank and Janet will leave and Cap, Ironman and Thor will remain and they extend membership to a recovering Vision and the Scarlet Witch (cause she is the bomb right now, yuh betta recognize).

We find Wanda watching the Vision in a nanotech rich bath doing self repairs, Wanda wishes she had been stronger and then he may not have been hurt he then projects a zoographic projection of himself to her and they have a heart to heart (or heart to engine…hell I don’t know!). He tells her she need not wry for him since their marriage is over, Wanda is clearly hurt by his words and decides fine if that the way you want it and storms off. Unknown to her Vision is still very much inlove with her and as she leaves he reaches for her and whispers her name as only a lover can (ding ding let the soap opera begin!)

Outside the mansion the press question the avengers departing; she hulk, Black Knight, quicksilver and crystal depart after words with the press. Inside Hawkeye tries to rally the waiting members to demand a spot on the team, everyone else is ok with just waiting to hear the outcome. The new warriors rage, & firestar watch this from the sidelines realizing this team has no space for any of them. Justice then arrives realizing that after what eh heard on the police band this may be their shot. Haykeye realizes the young recruits and follows.

In the lab Carol Danvers goes over some potential codenames with beast and he runs a physical; which tells that she can never become binary again or attain those power levels again. Beast confirms he’s staying with the X-men and she says he should keep her powers between them as she wants in on this team. Wanda meanwhile sits alone and thinks of wonderman in her hour of need, we see him forming just close enough to her for her to hear his voice when Wasp comes in and tells her, her spot is safe. Inside the meeting area 7 more avengers decline and Giant man wonders if maybe they should even leave, cap says that they need not worry since they are not done with the interviews, To the shock of everyone Duane wants autographs from all, prompting Iron man to question his credentials. (lol)

4 more avengers then depart as the media watches on. Carol then retreats to the bar for a drink while she reflects on her life just then iron man walks in and she makes up an excuse as to why she’s there prompting him (who is a recovered alcoholic) to think she may have a drinking problem.
Whirlwind is about to pounce on another bank when he gets blasted by Justice, he accepts the fight and firestar and justice take him on. Justice even reveals he knows quite a bit about his foe thanks to having studied him. (cool beans justice........ your kinda cool).

Back In the founders meeting Carol’s name come sup and IM immediately says no but wont disclose his reasons, the other jump to her defense and he decides since it’s a suspicion he wont object. Then they wonder where is Hawkeye?

Clint is at the site of the battle where justice and firestar have whooped Whirlwind pretty darn good (he’s embedded butt first in a wall). Hawkeye is impressed and together they turn the villain in, the press gets a wind of it and its good news all around. When they get back to the mansion cap reveal there’s only one spot left….for hawkeye. Good ole Clint pleads to give the kids his spot to share, firestar gets pissed and starts to storm out since she is not about to beg for scraps. Cap stops her and offers them reserve member status. Justice is ecstatic while firestar is indifferent. (hmmm rich potential right there). Giant man and wasp then depart after shrinking and flying away, then its time and they go outside to meet their fans (man these guys are like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears lights flashing everywhere...hmm now i cant get Paparatzi by lady gaga and kill the lights by britney spears outa my head lol). Jarvis watches from inside, wasp and hank from their ship as the news feed starts. Duane introduces thema dn while cap talks the members get itchy (they want him to say IT). With a quick nudge from irn man Captain America cries ‘Avengers Assemble’! and the crowd and cameras go wild. (man this book gets better and better)

The Good!
Perfect pacing, the team came together organically and everyone had a good reason for being their, I also loved Justice’s reaction to the whole thing, he’s a fan and man what a fan he is. Firestar on the other hand is a good counterbalance since she is just along for the ride really. A lot of set up done here and many plots to be dealt with in the future. (Love it)
The Bad!
I have no complaints with this issue!

The Ugly!
Perfect story
 
This and other reviews along with scans on my blog  http://ryonslaughtreviews.blogspot.com/

  Quote: Wanda to Morgan “I can challenge you Morgan! I---The Scarlet Witch! I can--And I will!” 

Synopsis:

The rebels from last issue are training in the forest, and discussing how they are going to infiltrate Morgan’s castle and save not just their friends but reality as well. In Morgan’s castle she along with vision and Moon dragon are torturing/interrogating the prison guard who was on duty when The scarlet witch just disappeared from her cell and left a man sized hole in her wall. He of course does not know (poor chap, all because he had to relieve himself) this leads to his death since he is useless, at that moment Mordred brings in a representative from lemuria for a meeting. Morgan flash Fry’s him and reminds Morgan that they have power for two simple reason ;the twilight sword and the scarlet witch who’s powers allow her to wield the sword. Having schooled her foolish nephew they come to another realization , the rebels may have taken Wanda and thus moon dragon is tasked to locate them immediately.

In the forest an effigy of Morgan demands the return of Wanda maxim off lest she kill them, she then disappears in a flash. Luckily for our heroes she’s slipped up, they now know the time to attack is now since she doesn’t have Wanda. Justice disagrees that this is the time to attack but everyone’s else is behind cap. (Morgan is freaking out completely)

In a remote area Wanda sits alone contemplating what’s happening or has happened in the recent past. Just then Wonderman returns after cutting wood in the forest , she questions how he can be here and he alludes that even after death “something” kept him from moving on and thus when she called for avengers he found the strength to return (something….must be pretty strong). When quizzed what that something is he changes the subject and while Wanda makes small talk he disappears, leaving her to wonder if he was ever really there to begin with.

At the castle the rebel avengers have made into Morgan’s castle by way of Hawkeye (and his clear robin hood obsession) by dressing up as monks. The plan is not full proof and the queens vengeance attacks in full force!

The clash is titanic; wasp quickly dispatches quicksilver, quasar and justice hit and run together, cap and Clint go back to back in the melee and wasp and photon take on giant man. When Hercules jumps in Thor handles him and the black knight goes for cap (man this was just gorgeous). In the middle of the fracas Morderd (the imbecile) runs up to his aunt realizing that she is giving her enemies all the time they need to stop her ( he does have a point though) She shoots him down, rendering him catatonic, she reveals that victory can only be sweet through battle; she is enjoying this immensely. She then reveals that she is completely secure all magic in this dimension belongs and is controlled by her so she is unbeatable, before she can make a move she is hit with a hex bolt! Standing before her is none other than the scarlet witch!!! (oh yeah baby classic badass Wanda at it’s best!!!)

Morgan then gets ready to lash out with the twilight sword and Wanda readies her attack, she then unleashes her power at its fullest, Morgan counters with the twilight sword but it’s not enough Morgan is the more experienced magical user and thus Wanda weakens and Morgan smiles. But as the rebels are about to be crushed Wanda finds new resolve and Wonderman (a giant sized version) slams down on Morgan, she counters with the sword but is quite shocked at his presence…..he is not a part of the world she created (oh yeah Wanda is gonna tap that a$$).

As Wanda continues her assault d-man snaps to his senses but Wonderman and the Scarlet Witch weaken under Morgan’s counterattack. As Wanda buckles Quasar grabs her shoulder and bids her take his strength, then captain America followed by Iron man, quicksilver, black knight, crystal and vision! The avengers are al breaking free and with Wanda as the focus point channeling all their power she makes wonderman even more powerful than before and the tide of the battle turns with Morgan on the offensive. She loses all the avengers who are now focused against her. She is both shocked and angry as she thought she was in control of the world but….she was wrong!

Morgan then lashes out in a desperate bid to stop them from combining their powers, Wonderman begs Wanda to do what’s she must while she still can, she hesitates….until Vision’s body is destroyed by Morgan. With her x-husband destroyed she focuses even harder and the reunited team channels their power (through Wanda), and she strengthens Simon beyond what he can handle. Simon then uses all that power to destroy Morgan which results in changing reality back to normal! (now that’s how you win a battle!)

Back in reality the avengers are happy everyone is fine and things turned out right. Cap soon summons help for the vision who’s in bad shape. Simon meanwhile is gone…..killed once again for the sake of his teammates and all reality. Thor Quickly confiscates the Twilight sword to return it to a place it can cause no harm. The world is back to normal, but there is still one problem apparently…… Whatever are they going to do with 39 Avengers? (the plot thickens lol)

The Good!
Wanda owned this issue, she was undoubtedly the star, the avengers pulled together at the right time and saved the world but the many times things seemed like they were going bad added just enough tension to make it highly enjoyable.


The Bad!
No complaints with this issue either! (hmmm are they really that good? YOU BETCHA!)


The Ugly!
Again it cant get much better than this, the art and story were beautifully choreographed and executed, you just cant complain about anything really. 
 
This and other reviews can be found at  http://ryonslaughtreviews.blogspot.com/  along with a few scans.

  Quote: Hawkeye to captain america- “Yeah, Yeah-- so we fix it right? That’s what we dod, after all. And we start by freeing the others right? 

Synopsis-

After the events of last issue we have a world Morgan has reshaped in her image; which translates into her turning the world in her own medieval version/dimension (kinky girl, our Morgan). Here she rules unchallenged and the world is very literally her oyster. Even the once mighty avengers are now just pawns in her grand scheme, they have been transformed into her own personal army known as the “Queen’s Vengeance” (sweet).

We see the transformed world and avengers and all seems well, Morgan has won….or has she?

Deep in a castle’s dungeon we find our lone heroin, the stunningly beautiful chaos witch, Wanda Maximoff. Apparently Wanda is immune to the alterations of the world (and thus Morgan’s main problem). Since she remains unchanged by the spell, She knows that something is amiss with the world, and she knows that only the avengers can stop it! Thus she uses her powers to send out a mystical call for the avengers.

Morgan’s world continues on until Wanda’s call makes Thor come to his sense somewhat and he starts to question the new world. He becomes confused as to why the god of thunder would be a soldier in Morgan’s army (lol guess Gods don’t serve huh). In his confusion he flies off to Asgard to get some answers. Alas Asgard does not exist in Morgan’s world, leading thor back to earth with new resolve.

Captain America is the nest to be hit by Wanda’s mystic call for avengers, the ever resourceful Cap works his way through the queens vengeance and manages to help some of his friends break free. After cap free the hot headed Hawkeye, he in turn frees African American hottie Photon and the sexy Ms. van Dyne AKA the Wasp.

As the free thinking avengers miscalculate and underestimate the spell, when they try to free Iron Man he attacks them. They then find themselves surrounded by their former allies (who are about to kick their heads in), Cap tries to reason with them to no avail. Luckily though Quasar and Justice rally to their side, even though justice never even served as an Avenger (hmmm justice doth have the heart of an avenger it seems). Before anymore can be turned Morgan has her team attack the traitors. 

With this break in their ranks Queens Vengeance attacks and a massive battle erupts though clearly our heroes are outnumbered. With out team about to roasted alive and skewered, Thor returns! (in the nick of time) With him on their side they are able to turn the tide just enough so they can beat a hasty retreat; they escape into the woods.

Morgan is now aware that something has gone wrong but despite the obvious solution; warping reality again she decides that she will hunt them down later (since she has the whole world in her palm). Meanwhile deep in the bowels of her dungeon the Scarlet Witch continues her call with all her strength, even more amazingly, energy swirls in front of her….her call has been answered and Wonder Man, the deceased Avenger returns!!

The Good!

Another beautiful read, story flow was perfect, we had enough tense moments to warrant a racing heart and the finale scene with Wonder man returned to life to aid Wanda was damn cool! The art is perfect.

The Bad!

I had no complaints with this issue.

The Ugly!
Kurt Busiek and George Perez the dynamic duo deliver a damn perfect read yet again!
 
This and other reviews at 
http://ryonslaughtreviews.blogspot.com/

Quote: “Avengers Assemble!”

Synopsis:

Interlude-

The story opens with the newly reunited Maximoff family settling into dinner at a local restaurant. Pietro AKA Quicksilver his twin sister Wanda AKA the Scarlet Witch, his wife the inhuman princess Crystal and their human daughter Luna. While Pietro is having one of his world famous PMS moments they are suddenly attacked by flying trolls.

1000 Miles away Bonita Juarez AKA Firebird makes a few rounds in Mexico when the ground itself mounts an attack on her.

In Wakanda a wedding festival is interrupted by a monster which attacks king T’Challa AKA the Black Panther. At the same moment Hawkeye is attacked as are Swordsman and Magdalene, Hercules , Living lightning, Moondragon, Spiderwoman Julia Carpenter, Namor, She Hulk, Darkhawk, Rage who is accompanied by Justice and firestar etc. All around the world, anyone who was ever an Avenger is mysteriously attacked by different beings, some Asgardian in nature while others simply mythological. They all fight valiantly despite the odds stacked against them and just as soon as it all began, it ends in a flash of blinding light. (Now that is how you open an issue!)

Chapter 1-

After this we switch to the Avengers Mansion where the press reports on everything that just happened; namely the attacks and whether or not the Avengers team will be reformed as a result. This is given further credence when several of the original members are reported as being inside the mansion.

Inside Captain America, Iron Man, Giant-Man and the Wasp discuss the reformation of the team, as well as the attacks and what this may men. The Avengers personal butler Jarvis ever the host makes tea for all present, everyone accepts except Iron man who cant because he does not want to remove his helmet (This was way before people thought it was dumb for Tony Stark and his bodyguard to never appear together in public, or even how dumb it was for him to conceal his identity, he became much cooler after the identity thing was no longer an issue). In the middle of the discussion the focal point being where in the world is Carmen san Diego!…….no no no they were asking about Thor (silly me) The missing. In a dramatic fashion the Asgardian hunk swoops in on a mighty breeze (which frightens wasp…and I’m sure cap too even though he wont admit it). Thor warns them that the magical kingdom Asgard has been destroyed and the Twilight Sword, which can remake reality, has gone missing! (Hmmm this could be really bad). With the whole team now together they vow to face whatever the threat may be together and a call goes out to everyone who has ever been an Avenger!

Chapter 2-

Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver arrive together and we even get a flirty hint from Hawkeye to Wanda (good stuff) and more of Magneto’s son being a prick (you gotta love him and all his supremacist attitude, he is daddy’s little boy after all). Once they enter the mansion we see that they are not early. (Deep Breath) we see Sersi the eternal, Hercules the son of Zeus (drinking as per usual, seems to be a main piece of his characterization) Machine man, Falcon, former leader Black Widow, She Hulk, Rick Jones, Starfox, Sandman, Crystal, Magdalena and Swordsman, Namor, Moondragon, Spiderwoman, Tigra, Firebird, Quasar, Stingray, Photon, living lightning, beast from x-men along wish Ms. Marvel/Binary, Darkhawk, Black Panther, Moon knight and Spiderman (exhales, yeah it’s a whopper!) Everyone is involved in their own dialogues but one person stand out amongst the crowd….D-Man….who smells and looks like a hobo……(I kid you not!) the regal Namor even suggest he could not be an avenger but perhaps an X-man, as they have low standards (lol now that while it may be insulting to X-men fans that line is fricking hilarious! And yes Namor is an ass). Justice and Firestar have also arrived despite not being avengers they have come with their friend rage who has been an avenger.

In the founders meeting Iron man confirms the arrivals while cap hears from the fantastic four that they wont be able to attend and they get a warning from Hulk not to disturb him again or else he may come and visit (me thinks that’s not a good idea).

Chapter 3-

The meeting is called to order with Spiderman having to depart because of issues over in his own books (I think he had a bounty on his head for supposedly killing a gangster and assaulting Norman Osborn). Then there is a minor fracas over him leaving then Thor explains that the Norn Stones are needed to use the Twilight Sword, Asguard is destroyed (in yet another ragnaroc) with that all 39 Avengers embark in their quintets to the five points on Earth where the stones are said to reside. Moon knight watches this from afar as eh departs on his own mission and someone is seen watches all these events unfold saying soon they will have the person they need.

Chapter 4-

We follow Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, quasar, crystal, d-man and Hercules as they fly right into turbulence, hilarity then ensues (since avengers don’t wear seatbelts). They get tossed about with d-man landing on Hercules much to his dismay (Malodorous Lummox? Lol). None can seem to get them to safety, that is until the scarlet witch uses her power to dispel the turbulence and get them to safety. They then arrive at the location of the twilight sword. Hercules complains some more about D-Man’s stench and cap quells his temper right before Mordred the evil appears before them. While he does the evil villain dialogue the grounds swallow up the scarlet witch and before her friends know what’s happening rock monsters encircle them. They fight valiantly but Quicksilver the over protective brother rushes Mordred peeling off his amour and demands to know where his sister is. Just then the villain stands revealed; Morigan Le Fay!!!

She reveals that she is just now attacking all the various avengers that have been sent out but none of this is important anymore because she ahs the norn stones and by using the scarlet witch she will be able to wield the twilight sword. Just then Wanda springs from the ground atop an altar and Morgan reaches for the sword. As Margan pulls the sword magic rips through wanda’s being. At the sight of this Quicksilver leaps to her aide and the avengers get ready to back him up but it is too late……

Morgan has the sword and with it she cleaves all reality and white hot creation envelops the world and all cap can think in his finale moments is “iron man would hate this”.

 

The Good!

A very accessible read, and trust me I do not jest. This was my first avengers comic and by the end I knew the founding members, the line up after them and had a bead on most of their personalities (at least some shone more than others) and don’t get me started on the art! Honestly George Perez is an astounding artist if for nothing else than his heroes all look different. Without color you can tell who everyone is (he is not Greg Land, you will find no two people in the same pose or any of that nonsense). The story is intriguing and you just want more honestly. There’s nothing that I would change about this it was perfect.

The Bad!

I had no complaints with this issue.

The Ugly!

1 issue collectors edition + Incredible Art + Great characterization and story= a damn good read that no one should miss!!!     
 
this and more reviews at 

http://ryonslaughtreviews.blogspot.com/    

Quote: Archangel to Mel: "Warren Worthington"Iceman: "Semitaken, but always looking, and I'm Bobby Drake, younger, cooler, hipper...
Archangel: "Louder"

Synopsis:

Warren, Bobby, and Hank take a trip to Anchorage to visit with some old friends who happen to be good ole Slim and Red. On the way to their destination they run into (very literally) local wildlife. The vehicle gets totaled and they end up in the care of Red and Slim’s new neighbor’s husband who happens to be the sheriff. So they hitch a ride and turn up at the summers residence where hilarity ensues (warren and Bobby fawn over and have some funny verbal sparring over the neighbors sister). Once inside Beast is able to shake off his clothes and wallow in his blue ness (Xavier’s is scraped and the image inducers along with it, so he has to wear a literal big jacket disguise). Once inside they reminisce about old times and Scott and Hank talk about the reason he called them (yup last issue they received a message from Scott).
   He thinks Jean may be turning into Dark Phoenix (hmmmmm). We even get a reason for wolvie and the other not tagging along (a plausible one at that). They continue to reminisce until the chimney gets blown out by a big bird (talk about bad omen).

Meanwhile at Xavier’s S.H.I.E.L.D. picks up Karl Lykos, (the human form of villain Sauron who they x-men defeated a few issues back) from the mansion, in New York, Rogue has another meeting with Dr. Agee, the (weird looking) man who claims he is able to remove mutation from a persons genome.

Scott decides to take his friends out for dinner, but as it turns out the Inuits are holding a riot in the streets (perfect timing I swear). Scott then gets all winded while discussing the state of Xavier’s and he discuss “the dream” (yawn…peaceful co-existence) just then its action time as crows begin to fill the sky and attack the helpless citizens.     The Good!
The writer has a clear handle on the voices of the first generation x-men. Warren and Bobby in particular get some damn funny dialogue. Everyone of the original 5 have a voice that is both convincing and real. I just loved the original five together reminded me of X-factor back when I was a kid. Bachalo again turns out some good visuals.

The Bad!
This story with the original 5 as mainstays only lasts one more issue;this could be a springboard for them to literally be the “uncanny” team but lo and behold marvel changes gears a few issues later and destroys what they deemed as “not working”.

The ugly!
Solid read, with some good visuals from Bachalo.     
 

Scans and other nicks knacks and other reviews can be found at http://ryonslaughtreviews.blogspot.com/    

Quote: Maggot- Wait! Your making a mistake----Joseph's not Magneto!

This and other reviews can be found at http://ryonslaughtreviews.blogspot.com/        
 

Quote: Sauron: "I'm bleeding"Wolverine: "And I'm crying"

Quote: Jubilee: "Nuh-uh! I aint nobody's snack food Rodan!"

Synopsis:
Rouge flees from her friends after they accused her of draining wolvie, unbeknownst to her however her friends battle with Sauron.    The monster quickly downs the team and prepares to feast.