REVIEWS: The X-Axis - 24 February 2008
Paul O'Brien
24 February 2008
================
For more links, cover art, archived reviews, and information on the
X-Axis mailing list, visit http://www.thexaxis.com
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This week:
CABLE & DEADPOOL #50 - "Symbiosis Mitosis"
by Reilly Brown and Fabian Nicieza
WOLVERINE: ORIGINS #22 - The Deep End, part 2 of 5
by Daniel Way and Steve Dillon
------------
It's a hectic weekend, so I'm keeping it short. Luckily for me, there's
not a great deal out this week. So let's look at the final issue of
CABLE & DEADPOOL, and then have a glance at where the character heads
next, in Wolverine: Origins.
Cable & Deadpool made it to issue #50. That's really quite surprising,
when you think about it. Consider for a moment the publishing history
of these characters. Their heyday was back in the nineties, when they
both got solo titles. Times moved on, sales dwindled, and both books
were relaunched as Agent X and Soldier X - only to tank anew. So by the
time Cable & Deadpool came along, both these characters had failed twice
in rapid succession. And they didn't have much excuse to appear in the
same story, either.
So by rights, this should have been a disastrous comic which spiralled
into rapid oblivion. Instead, Fabian Nicieza managed to make it work,
by building the series around Cable's utopian pretensions, and
positioning Deadpool as a court jester, comic foil and uncertain
acolyte. It was Cable's story, but from Deadpool's perspective, leaving
us a little uncertain about whether he really knew what he was doing.
And then, of course, they yanked Cable out of the book in order to stick
him in a crossover and relaunch his solo series, and that was the end of
that. The stories since then have been hit and miss. The book has
effectively become Deadpool Team-Up, and that's a very difficult format
to pull off without seeming incredibly contrived. We've had some shaky
stories, and without Cable to serve as an anchor, the book seemed rather
directionless.
Nonetheless, it goes out on a high. Artist Reilly Brown has taken over
as plotter for the final two issues, with Nicieza contributing a script.
And it turns out that Brown is pretty darn good at this. Faced with the
thankless task of wrapping up a somewhat directionless series that got
hopelessly derailed a year ago, he actually manages to give the book
some resolution.
Instead of a straight team-up, this story has Deadpool teaming up with
all the major New York heroes, as Venom-infected dinosaurs run wild in
Manhattan. It's a nicely judged premise for this book - absurd, yet
still within the bounds of the Marvel Universe. Deadpool gets to team up
with the big names and prove himself by saving the day; supporting
characters get their own little moments of resolution; Cable doesn't
appear but still manages to help out; and everything wraps up with the
cast gathering round the TV to hang out together.
Nicieza produces some of his best dialogue, with some genuinely funny
one-liners and silliness that still let the story work. (Deadpool
insists that he must be a proper hero because he registered during Civil
War: "I'm a loyal, goose-stepping vague analogy!") And Brown is an
excellent action artist with the light touch to carry off comedy. Why
he isn't working on a higher-profile comic, I have no idea. Between
this and the last issue, he's done some unexpectedly entertaining work,
and shows real promise as a writer/artist.
This issue isn't a proper resolution to the series that came before.
That would be impossible without picking up Cable's storyline, which is
apparently off limits. But it's a worthy final issue that at least
gives Deadpool a well-deserved send-off, and it's just plain good fun.
It's a real shame they're not continuing with the book with these
creators, and on these lines. On the strength of this issue, Brown could
have done some great comics.
Rating: A
------------
But what happens to Deadpool now? Well, the good news is that he's
getting an ongoing solo series, just like Cable. The bad news it that
it's by Daniel Way and Steve Dillon, the creators of WOLVERINE: ORIGINS.
Their current storyline, "The Deep End", is a five-issue arc, presumably
setting up the new series.
The plot: some villain or other has hired Deadpool to kill Wolverine.
So they fight for two issues and counting. Really, that's it.
I can't say it's completely without good points. There are a couple of
moments here and there, largely due to Dillon's storytelling. But taken
as a whole, it's just depressing. It's flat, it's banal, and there's
virtually nothing to it other than two characters fighting. Apparently
next month we can look forward to more of the same, and I have a sinking
feeling the whole five months is going to be devoted to a single turgid
fight scene.
Way is writing Deadpool as a delusional maniac with multiple voices in
his head - usually living in a cartoon world, but with the occasional
contribution from voices that are a little more in touch with reality.
This seems like a gimmick rather than an interesting take on the
character. Way has either lost sight of the character's trademark
flippancy, or simply can't write it. (And it's not an easy voice to do,
I'm sure.) Nor does it work as pathos. Instead, we have what seems to
be a multiple personality version of Deadpool, and none of those
personalities is especially interesting.
When I reviewed the last issue, I said that it was mildly entertaining
and raised a few smiles. And it did. But this is a second straight
issue of the same thing, which is both repetitious and exposes the fact
that "The Deep End" doesn't have a plot. And it pales in comparison to
Cable & Deadpool, the title that is being cancelled to make way for it.
Five issues of this extended fight scene is an unenticing prospect; an
entire series by the same creative team is downright terrifying.
Presumably Marvel see this as a step up for Deadpool, but for the life
of me, I can't understand why.
Rating: C-
------------
Also this week:
ULTIMATE X-MEN #91 - Part two of the Apocalypse storyline, as lots of
assorted guest stars show up to help fight the new villain. The angle
here is that Apocalypse can take control of all the mutants, and Kirkman
certainly does a reasonable job of establishing him as a major threat.
The Ultimate imprint doesn't pile on the guest stars that much, and as a
result it still comes across as a reasonably significant event when they
do it. The main weakness here is that Apocalypse hasn't got much of a
personality, beyond "evil, ranting villain." Nice art from Larroca,
though, and it's basically fine. B
UMBRELLA ACADEMY #6 - The final issue of the first series, although it's
clearly going to be one of those "series of miniseries" books - in other
words, an ongoing title with intermittent gaps. When Dark Horse
announced that they were publishing a superhero comic by the lead singer
of My Chemical Romance, you could have been forgiven for expecting a
dodgy pet project that was only being published in order to take
advantage of his fanbase. But in fact, Umbrella Academy has been a
great little book, charming, quirky, funny and well-constructed. No, it
doesn't reinvent the genre - but it's a good example of how this stuff
should be done, from creators who have chosen to build their own version
of the team book, rather than play with the same old familiar characters
(or obvious knock-offs). I really wish there were more comics like
this. A
------------
There's more from me at If Destroyed, and if you're desperate for more
Article 10 columns, you can always hunt through the archives on Ninth
Art.
http://ifdestroyed.blogspot.com
http://www.ninthart.com
Next week, X-Men reinvents itself as X-Men: Legacy, which at least means
we'll never hear the word "Unadjectived" again. And the Black Widow
guest stars in X-Men: First Class #9.
--
Paul O'Brien
THE X-AXIS - http://www.thexaxis.com
IF DESTROYED - http://ifdestroyed.blogspot.com
NINTH ART - http://www.ninthart.com
Billy Bissette
news:aCglleAZ...@esoterica.demon.co.uk:
> THE X-AXIS
> 24 February 2008
> ================
> UMBRELLA ACADEMY #6
> I really wish there were more comics like
> this. A
I felt the ending was weak. At the same time, I don't see how a
better ending could have been made after the set-up.
> Next week, X-Men reinvents itself as X-Men: Legacy, which at least
> means we'll never hear the word "Unadjectived" again. And the
> Black Widow guest stars in X-Men: First Class #9.
I always used "adjectiveless," and only ever saw the same. Never
heard anyone use "unadjectived."
Jerry B. Ray, Jr.
Billy Bissette <bai...@coastalnet.com> wrote:
> I always used "adjectiveless," and only ever saw the same. Never
>heard anyone use "unadjectived."
I've seen it (moreso "back in the day" when the book first launched and this
group or its predecessor was still more active) and I've probably used it.
I always figured it was a pun - the two books were "Uncanny" and
"Unadjectived."
JRjr
--
%%%%% Jerry B. Ray, Jr. %%%%%%%% www.prism.gatech.edu/~jr70 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%
"Some will shake off the sloth of faithlessness
While others simply languish in their sleep
Me, I just fight to stay awake..." -- VOL, "Black Cloud O'er Me"
Dan McEwen
news:fpuntb$b4m$1...@news-int.gatech.edu:
> In article <Xns9A4ECDFFCDDF...@216.168.3.70>,
> Billy Bissette <bai...@coastalnet.com> wrote:
>
>> I always used "adjectiveless," and only ever saw the same. Never
>>heard anyone use "unadjectived."
>
> I've seen it (moreso "back in the day" when the book first launched
> and this group or its predecessor was still more active) and I've
> probably used it. I always figured it was a pun - the two books were
> "Uncanny" and "Unadjectived."
I really don't remember unadjectived but I found a post from 1999. I
don't know why I wouldn't remember that one. I prefer adjectiveless
myself but it's a moot point now. Funny that X-Men is now changing
titles yet again (first New, now Legacy). Maybe they need to consider
just giving it an adjective from now on.
Nathan P. Mahney
"Dan McEwen" <ferroS...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9A4F802B...@130.133.1.4...
Or perhaps cancelling it and making Uncanny twice-monthly (or thrice if we
cancel Astonishing at the same time).
- Nathan P. Mahney -
Dan McEwen
news:fq3nff$kju$1...@otis.netspace.net.au:
> "Dan McEwen" <ferroS...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns9A4F802B...@130.133.1.4...
>> I really don't remember unadjectived but I found a post from 1999. I
>> don't know why I wouldn't remember that one. I prefer adjectiveless
>> myself but it's a moot point now. Funny that X-Men is now changing
>> titles yet again (first New, now Legacy). Maybe they need to
>> consider just giving it an adjective from now on.
>
> Or perhaps cancelling it and making Uncanny twice-monthly (or thrice
> if we cancel Astonishing at the same time).
And then what happens if we have another Whedon writing the book and,
instead of coming out 2-3 times per month, it comes out 2-3 times per
year? Each book has its own feel to it so I'd just as soon they stay
separate.
William George Ferguson
As has been pointed out, the delay on the second series of 12 issues wasn't
with the writer, it was with the artist. (that wasn't so much true with the
first series, and definitely not true with Fray)
--
"Oh Buffy, you really do need to have
every square inch of your ass kicked."
- Willow Rosenberg
Dan McEwen
news:s4jbs3tc6r4gcqbi9...@4ax.com:
> On 27 Feb 2008 15:52:48 GMT, Dan McEwen <ferroS...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>>"Nathan P. Mahney" <npma...@yahoo.com.au> wrote in
>>news:fq3nff$kju$1...@otis.netspace.net.au:
>>> Or perhaps cancelling it and making Uncanny twice-monthly (or thrice
>>> if we cancel Astonishing at the same time).
>>
>>And then what happens if we have another Whedon writing the book and,
>>instead of coming out 2-3 times per month, it comes out 2-3 times per
>>year? Each book has its own feel to it so I'd just as soon they stay
>>separate.
>
> As has been pointed out, the delay on the second series of 12 issues
> wasn't with the writer, it was with the artist. (that wasn't so much
> true with the first series, and definitely not true with Fray)
That was also true of The Ultimates. It still only came out a few times
a year.
grinningdemon
Bad idea...there are way too many X-Men to service in a single book
(hell, there are arguably too many to service in 3 books...especially
when Wolverine has to be in all of them)...and the good thing about
multiple titles is that gives people options...if they don't like
what's going on in one book, they can check out another...this is why
I think the Amazing Spiderman approach is ultimately a very bad idea
that will not last...well, that and the fact that Brand New Day is
lame...and delays with this format are inevitable.
Nathan P. Mahney
"grinningdemon" <grinni...@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:elves3p74h9irtqvt...@4ax.com...
Pffft. Transformers managed it with a few hundred more.
- Nathan P. Mahney -
Billy Bissette
news:fq8ug2$26qm$1...@otis.netspace.net.au:
Not really. Transformers managed a small core cast, with hundreds
of guest stars that were phased in and out as the toylines progressed.
Some only being present for a single story.
GI Joe had a similar situation. It was a tight military book with
a small cast. Then the second wave of toys came out, and the rosters
on both sides expanded. And you started getting sillier and sillier
designs, and more toys meant more characters, and people were getting
lost in the mix on a regular basis.
Nathan P. Mahney
"Billy Bissette" <bai...@coastalnet.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9A539A06A1BD...@216.168.3.70...
Still, the core cast was a *lot* of characters, in Transformers and G.I. Joe
both - comparable with X-Men, if not larger. Especially when you factor in
the UK series - a weekly title, as well.
A thrice monthly X-Men book would have just as high a page count as the
current situation. Higher if you take into account the lateness of
Astonishing. It's worked well for Spider-Man, and I think it would do well
for the X-Men too.
- Nathan P. Mahney -
Billy Bissette
The core cast in G.I. Joe started small. Heck, it was one of the
points of the Joe team. The good guys were pretty much a normal
comic book team size. The bad guys were a couple of faces and
thousands of faceless troops. (Though even the disposable Cobra
troops got some bits of characterization. The book had time for
it, and it also helped sell the enemy. That was lost in the future
as well, when the enemy side was also flooded with faces.)
It was around the second year when the cast started inflating, both
in size and in number of loony designs. And that is the point where
I think the book started to suffer. (Actually, I'd peg it at
Destro's first appearance. He was a harbringer of what was to come,
even if the book was still salvageable by that point.)
> A thrice monthly X-Men book would have just as high a page count as
> the current situation. Higher if you take into account the lateness
> of Astonishing. It's worked well for Spider-Man, and I think it would
> do well for the X-Men too.
Aren't the core X-books a little closer in sales to each other
than the various Spidey books were?
grinningdemon
<npma...@yahoo.com.au> wrote:
There are a few major differences...G.I. Joe and Transformers have
never reached anywhere near the popularity of the X-Men (in comics,
anyway)...neither has the continuous publishing history or the varied
storytelling (with mini series, solo series, spotlight stories, etc.)
that X-Men has...and there's also the issue of consistency of
quality...which would never be maintained.
>
>A thrice monthly X-Men book would have just as high a page count as the
>current situation. Higher if you take into account the lateness of
>Astonishing. It's worked well for Spider-Man, and I think it would do well
>for the X-Men too.
Whether or not it's worked well for Spiderman is still open to
debate...yes, sales have increased but it's too soon to say if that's
because people genuinely like this approach or because of all the hype
that has surrounded Spiderman lately...if it's the latter (as I
suspect), then sales will be dropping soon...personally, I think the
Spider-titles went to hell with Brand New Day...but, even if it is a
continued success, Spiderman is a single character...there is no large
cast involved as there would be with X-Men.
Nathan P. Mahney
For me that was when the book started getting good. The first ten issues I
find mostly disposable, mostly because the cast at that point was relatively
small and uninteresting.
> > A thrice monthly X-Men book would have just as high a page count as
> > the current situation. Higher if you take into account the lateness
> > of Astonishing. It's worked well for Spider-Man, and I think it would
> > do well for the X-Men too.
>
> Aren't the core X-books a little closer in sales to each other
> than the various Spidey books were?
Probably, and that's a good point. Bringing Spidey's spin-off titles up to
the sales levels of Amazing was a big win for Marvel. With the X-Men
titles, Astonishing sells more than Uncanny, and X-Men is about the same.
So maybe there's no sense in fixing that which works already. Still, I'd
like to see it purely for reasons of selfish and personal enjoyment.
- Nathan P. Mahney -