Essential X-Men 15

Continuity. Where would we be without it? Arguably, it was the X-Men, as reborn and rewritten by Chris Claremont in the 1970s, that really started to push continuity, ongoing sagas, story arcs, events with consequences that would reverberate for years to come. The central X-Men narratives go on doing so, with parallel story lines going on across different titles. It is all very confusing. Since these Panini reprints actually contain the equivalent of a few (four in this case) issues of the American originals, they are also opportunities to create a linear (ish) narrative out of these different cross-title strands. Still, it is a struggle to work out what is going on at times. One of the worst elements of this is the use of annoying captions telling us who certain characters are. These are occasionally useful, if there are obscure mutants, or characters so inadequately drawn that they could be anyone. But do we really need one reading "Scott Summer - Cyclops. Optic Force Blasts"?

The current storyline falls under the overall saga Utopia. The X-Men now live in San Francisco, and are trying to build a safe haven for the world's few remaining mutants. There have only been a couple of hundred since the Scarlet Witch uttered the nearly accurate magic words "No More Mutants". As usual, there are anti mutant protests and violence, which is escalating on the streets. Add in the current Dark Reign - the rule of evil former Green Goblin as the man in charge of pretty much the whole USA with his own team of bad Avengers, and his conspiracy to collaborate with the once bad now good but still a bit unpredictable Emma Frost, and there is chaos, tension, some confusing dopplegangers, one of whom is a clone, the other is Mystique, and a bit of a mess in general. The X-Men always was a bit messy, it is part of the charm, but it walks a thin line here. The return of Gambit, (lame) Rogue, (used to be great but is now as lame as the movie character) and Danger (amazing villain invented by Joss Buffy Whedon, an intelligence that emerged from the X-Men's Danger Room but now one of the good guys and therefore lame) brings the tone down here with some sloppy action, or in other words, it is a bit lame. As usual, it is the edginess offered by Emma Frost and boyfriend Cyclops that offers a core of interest to the story. The utopian dimension here is exciting, as we see Osborne's illusory order and stability clashing with the hope for a West Coast Mutant haven.

Astonishing Spider-Man 32

Firstly, to clarify this is a Panini reprint. These are amazing value, can be found in highstreets across Britain and Ireland, and can be described, without metaphor or exaggeration, as responsible for transforming the landscape of mainstream comics in these Isles. For many years, comics were simply not available outside of specialist shops, or in small quantities of trade paperbacks/graphic novels in bookshops. Comics, particularly American comics, had been replaced by abominations, which still dominate shelf space. These are badly drawn infantile product placements, printed on flimsy paper with a piece of badly designed plastic toy stuck on the front.

But then, slowly, gradually, things began to change. 2000AD seemed to be more visible, but also, something else. These were the same size as the traditional American comic, but printed on better paper, with sophisticted colour reproduction that back in the Twentieth Century had only be the preserve of exlcusive, special editions, not the stuff of newsagents. The Panini reprints had appeared. Yes, the company that were responsible for the craze for football stickers in the early 1980s, had brought Marvel back to the newsagent.

For me this coincided with a gradual return to comics, which had been patchy and occasional for years. It also marked a re-engagement with the Marvel Universe. The only problem with this is that these reprints are somewhat behind events as they are played out in 'the real world' of new American publications. Big news is old by the time you get to read it. I already know who the next major death will be, about a year before I'll get to read it, just as I already know that someone else currently dead has been back for a while in American time.

So...

The cover is great, which is a surprisingly rare thing in superhero comics these days. It is a simple understated image that plays with line and colour. Manhattan skyscrapers climb up at a diagonal that crosses the page, delinated by light filled windows contrasted against black, as Spidey swings past, an arm and leg extended forward. The blue of his costume is as black as the buildings behind him, with no outline to differentiate them. But the simple reason for the cover’s greatness is that it is the work of John Romita Jr.

His work stands out amongst the more generic tendencies in superhero comics. When reading anything drawn by him there is a real sense that this stuff is still drawn by hand, rather than illustrated as part of some digital process. Much of his recent pencilling work has been inked by Klaus Janson, whose reputation was earned in working with Frank Miller in the 80s. This combination is immediately recognizable, and whenever they are involved in a story, I will be happy with at least the way it looks. You are guaranteed a story that looks great, is paced well, told with tension and flair.

But this isn't just a pretty comic. Written by Dan Slott, who had a great run doing humorous and idiosyncratic work writing She Hulk, the story combines the wedding of Aunt May to the father of JJ Jameson with the return of Doctor Octopus. Poor old Doc Ock is suffering from a degenerative illness, losing his mind and is close to death.

He extends his control of his artificial limbs into the technological systems of New York, attempting to control the city, then of course the world, as gift to mankind. His unconscious hatred for Spider-Man, not to mention Aunt May’s wedding, lead to the city turning in violence against its population. The story balances aspects of Peter’s life, a team up with the Torch, and keeps supporting characters busy. A beautifully handled adventure. Even the colour is good. It does everything a Marvel story should, while showing us a Doctor Octopus we haven’t seen before, retaining his old self in a new and believably updated form.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog about comics. The premise is very simple. I have loved comics all my life, and feel as if I would like to keep an informal record of what I am reading. I make no apologies for the diversity of comics addressed here. I don't distinguish between high and low, old or new. Each brief post simply offers speculations and opinions.