Pull List for 9/17/08 and Marvel and DC December Solicits and News

Action Comics #869 - Brainiac has always been my favorite Superman villain after Lex Luthor. And while I do not plan on continue to pick up this title after this Brainiac story, since I would have to pick up Superman and Supergirl titles, Geoff Johns has been able to write one of the more entertaining Superman stories I have read in a long time.

Titans #5 - This is Judd Winnick last shot at convincing me to continue to read this title. But knowing Winnick this is probably the last issue I will be reading till a new creative team replaces Winnick and his rotating art teams. It sad because I never thought I would drop a title with my favorite team in comics but again Winnick proves that no matter how many great characters a bad writer can have on a title a bad writer will continue to be bad no matter what.

Uncanny X-Men #502 - Uncanny X-Men is another title that I am considering on dropping. I thought that after Messiah Complex all the X-titles would get on track but since Fraction has joined his Iron Fist partner Brubaker Uncanny has actually gone down in quality. But like always I am willing to give a creative team one story to continue to read a title and that is what I am giving Fraction and Brubaker.

The new solicits for both Marvel and DC have come out and it looks like some interesting things are coming for both companies in December. In the Marvel side some of there titles have been classified due to Secret Invasion. Also even though Loeb hasn't written anything in the past few years that I have been a fan of I am still excited about Ultimatum due to Mark Millar returning to the Ultimate Universe after that event. On the DC side it looks like the last chapter to Morrison's Final Crisis will not be released till January and instead Morrison will team up with Tomasi for Final Crisis: Secret Files that will reveal things about Final Crisis. Also all Bat-fans should be excited that legendary Bat-writer and -editor Dennis O'Neil will write a two-part story in Batman and Detective Comics with a Gotham without a Batman.

Recently Newsarama recently posted the Diamond August comic sales (click here). And again it looks like Secret Invasion took the top spot while Final Crisis placed second which has to have Marvel jumping for joy that they again beat out DC event. Also out of the 7 DC titles that appear on the top 25 only JLA and JSA, which sell themselves, that do not tie into Morrison's Final Crisis or Batman RIP. It doesn't look good for DC considering Marvel has 17 titles on the top 25 and only 4 of those titles tie into Marvel's big event Secret Invasion.

And for anyone reading Secret Invasion you should read the interview IGN did with Brian Bendis about Secret Invasion and what Dark Reign is about if you haven't already. For the interview click here

Anime Review: Bleach ep. 80 and Code Geass:Lelouch of the Rebellion ep. 20

Bleach 80: "Assault From a Formidable Enemy! A Tiny Final Line of Defense?!"
Summary
After Yoshino's death and Kariya releasing Bount eggs into the world Kariya and his group disappeared. Urahara and Renji decide to search for the Bounts and Ririn, Cloud, and Nova decide to teach Ichigo a lesson by dressing up as Bounts.

Review
After it seemed that Bleach finally hit its stride with this filler arc with the last four or five episodes being very well done and furthering the plot this episode wasn't a must watch episode for this arc. Bleach has always tries to add some into each episode and many times the comedy works but there have been times when the comedy does not work. This episode is an example of Bleach trying to hard with the comedy. While the beginning of the episode did have its funny moments the joke of Ririn and Cloud being stuck in those blue egg looking suits and Ichigo and Rukia chasing them got old fast. I was glad that we only had one episode of this because when the "final" battle between Ririn and Cloud vs Ichigo, Rukia, and Renji I didn't really care like I should have about what happend to Ririn and Cloud. This episode could have been much better if we were given more information about what Kariya and his group of Bounts are going to do with the eggs they released and what the Soul Society going to do about the growing problem with the Bounts.

Episode Rating - 6.2/10

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion 20: Battle for Kyushu
Summary
Suzaku, who quits his job of being Euphimia's Knight, has to deal with Japanese terorist who have invaded Kyushu on his own with the Lancelot equipped with a Float System. Even with Lancelot's ability to fly Suzaku is overwhelmed by the Japanese terrorist. When Suzaku loses all of Lancelot's energy and is about to be killed Lelouch and CC save Suzaku in the Gawain. With Lelouch's help Suzaku is able to defeat the Japanese terrorist.

Review
With this episode Code Geass has a time change to 2am here on the West Coast which is basically Adults Swim's way of condeming there shows. It is obvious that Adult Swim has now shifted to a much more comedy oriented network. This just continues Cartoon Networks continueing to lesson the anime they show on there channel with the only anime being shown on a reasonable time for fans now is Naruto and Bleach. The good thing for fans who didn't drink a case of Red Bull to stay up at 2am, or wake up at 5am ET, is that you can use your TIVO to record the episode or if your lucky you can watch it on YouTube since someone will likely uplode this episode their for as long as possible till it is taken down.

Enough of my rant about the ridiculous hour for Code Geass it's time for me talk about the actual episode. As expected Suzaku did not get repremanded for his actions and it should not be suprising to anyone. The writers and directors of this show continue to show they have a very good grasp of there characters and were they want to take them in the story. While Suzaku giving up being Euphimia's Knight being predictable it shows how guilt ridden a character Suzaku is to go back to being to the front line as a self punishment. I thought that it was interesting that Lelouch didn't actual team up with the Japanese terrorist. It just shows that Lelouch isn't a small picture guy and that he is all about the big picture and he knew that these terrorist were stupid for doing what they did. And with Lelouch helping Suzaku out it looks like Lelouch and the Black Knights will get the support they need to put up a real fight against Britannia and its army. The only thing that I thought just seemed a bit to out there was Nina's continued lesbian obsession with Euphimia. Nina continues to be the strangest character on the show since she was caught humping a table in the earlier episode. Though the interaction with Nina did help Euphimia realize her feelings for Suzaku which should lead to some interesting development when Lelouch finds out his best friend and sister are now going out.

Episode Rating - 8.3/10

Ultimate X-Men/Fantastic Four Annual #1 Review

Creative Team
Writers: Aron E. Coleite and Joe Pokaski
Artists: Dan Panosian and Mark Brooks
Inkers: Danny Miki and Troy Hubbs
Colorists: John Rauch and Antonio Fabela

Issue Rating
Story: 6.7/10
Art: 6/10
Overall: 6.35/10

Issue Summary
20 years into the future the X-Men consisting of Captain America, Wolverine, Rogue, Shadowcat, and a teenage boy Phoenix hijack a train and crash it into a building.

In the present Sue is giving Reed a hard time because he forgot about their date. Reed gives Sue some flowers telling her he hasn't forgot about their date and he was about to go get changed. But before he can do anything a train crashes through the Baxter Building. Evidently this is the same train that the future X-Men hijack earlier.

The future X-Men step out of the train and introduce themselves to the Fantastic Four as being here to help. But as Captain America and Reed shake hands Captain America throws Reed at Wolverine who stabs Reed with his claws. A fight breaks out between both teams that leads to the future X-Men kidnapping Reed.

Outside the Xavier Institute Rogue apologizes to Logan for taking the drug Banshee. Apparently Rogue still has Logan's powers and Logan tells Rogue to enjoy his powers but he will not improve of her previous use of the Banshee. After a short argument Jean calls all the X-Men to the mansion and Logan heads back alone.

At the mansion the X-Men and Fantastic Four have a discussion about the future X-Men that attack the F4. Sue says that she wants the X-Men to help fight this future X-Men since their future selves would not hurt there present. Logan gets into an argument with Sue of why he should help but Jean puts Logan in a time out psychically. Jean tells Sue that they will help them get Reed back.

Elsewhere in an unknown location the future X-Men are torturing Reed. Captain America and Wolverine leave Phoenix to continue torturing Reed. Reed tells Phoenix he knows that Phoenix is Franklin his son. Phoenix tells Reed he is lying. Suddenly Phoenix is stabbed by someone with claws. Captain America, Rogue, and Shadowcat hear some screams and head towards were Phoenix and Reed were. When they enter the Wolverine appears from the shadows reaveling he is an Phoenix's attacker and that he is not alone. Hundreds of Wolverine Sentinels attack the future X-Men.

In the X-Jet the two teams head towards the future X-Men location and once they get there they find Captain America and Rogue lying on the ground dying. Jean goes toward Captain America's body and reveals that this Captain America is not Steve Rogers but a depowered Scott Summers. Scott tells Jean that he, Jean, and the original Captain America tried to stop something or someone but had there powers taken away. In the end they killed Steve by quickly aging him and tortured and killed Jean which is the reason he took up the Captain America mantle.

Jean ask who is it that killed them, Shadowcat and Phoenix than appear and show the head of Wolverine telling them that it was Wolverine who betrayed them. Logan does not believe it was him being the traitor and the Wolverine head says that he did it because he loved Rogue. He also says that they(?) used him (Wolverine) as a model for the perfect Sentinel killing machines. Scott then dies in Jeans arms.

Sue ask the Wolverine head were Reed is and Phoenix says that the Wolverine Sentinels took Reed into 20 years into the future. Sue ask why she should trust them because they did they tried to kill Reed. Shadowcat, holding up Cap's shield infront of Sue, Logan, and Sue, tells them they have no idea why they did it and what the future holds.

Back to 20 years into the future Iceman is being attacked by a couple of the Wolverine Sentinels. Even though Iceman does his best to fight of the Wolverine Sentinels but is captured and taken into a prison cell located inside the Baxter Building.

In the Baxter Building Reed tries to get answers about were he is and see someone flying through the with their body on fire and thinks it is Johnny. The issue ends with Reed entering the room were that person flew into only to see a different version of the Fantastic Four comprised of Firestar, Invisable Woman, Namor, and what looks to be Iron Man. To be contnuein the Ultimate Fantastic Four/X-Men Annual #1

Highlights of the Issue

"Meet the future X-Men"

"Spider-Man, Spider-Man does whatever a Spider......Wait a minute Shadowcat using webshotters?"

"This solves the mystery of how Wolverine can appear everywhere in the Marvel Universe at once."

"Move over Steve Rodgers and Bucky Barnes, Scott Summers is the new Captain America. At least for one issue"

"Meet the new Fantastic Four"

Review
Ultimate X-Men/Fantastic Four Annual #1 was a very average issue with its doomed future story by Heroes writers Aron Coleite and Joe Pokaski. This is actually an enjoyable annual for those who like a very fast paced story and those who have been exclusively reading the Ultimate Universe. The problem with this issue is that not only is this a lead up to Jeff Loebs Ultimatum mini-series but also that this is a two-part annual with the second part going to be continued in a not so cleverly titled Ultimate Fantastic Four/X-Men Annual #1 that comes out in two weeks. When I pick up an annual I expect it to be a one-shot story that may or may not lead to some future story in the main book and I do not think I should pick up two annuals to read the whole story.

Now while I found this issue to be an average read there were still things that I enjoyed about this issue that will make me pick up part two of this issue. I actually thought this future group of X-Men was an interesting especially with Captain America as part of the team. When I first saw Captain America I actually thought it was Peter Parker for some reason. But still, I was suprised that out of all the characters that Scott Summers became Captain America. This is actually the first time Scott actually took the mantle of Captain America in any future timeline at least that I have read.

I also thought that both Schadowcat and Rogue's "new" appearance looked interesting, especially Rogue's. It was nice to see that at least in this future Peter and Kitty's relationship was not ignored and since Kitty has her own web shotters that probably means that Peter is dead or the very least captured in the future this team of X-Men came from. Also future Kitty's learning to make her molecules super-light or super-dense was kinda of an interesting evolution of her powers that Coleite and Pokaski gave her. Seeing this evolution of her powers could actually make Ultimate Kitty stronger than her 616 counterpart if Bendis or another writer have her powers develop in Ultimate Spider-Man or Ultimate X-Men

With Rogue her future self was actually intersting since it looks like she has permantly absorbed both Wolverine claw and Angel's wings. Her power evolution and her relationship is most likely a foreshadowing of what present Rogue and Wolverine were talking about. I haven't read Ultimate X-Men since Bendis run on it but I am wondering what that Banshee drug Rogue was talking to Logan was and if that is what had her have Wolverine's claws in the present.

The mystery of who Scott was talking about should be a interesting reveal of who killed so many of the Ultimate Universe heroes since I can't believe that Wolverine and that future version of the Fantastic Four were the ones that did it alone. My guess would be that Xavier, Appocalypse, or Magneto were the cause of this future timeline to look the way it does. And seeing that Wolverine was replicated and turned into mutant hunting Sentinels was an idea I actually liked since the Sentinels have not played a big part in the Ultimate Universe. So there inclusion in the story was nice to see even if they looked like Wolverine.

Even with those interesting developments this was definetly for those who have been reading all the Ultimate titles, specifically Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four. The only Ultimate Universe book that I have been reading has been Ultimate Spider-Man so some of the information in this book I did not get. This book felt like the average team-up between groups that have been done a hundred times and there really isn't anything new with the interaction between the two teams that felt very compelling.

I have no idea what kind of drug Banshee was since I do not remember reading about it when I use to read Ultimate X-Men so that was a bit confusing and Coleite and Pokaski could have said what that drug was. I don't know if Banshee is the Ultimate Universe version of KICK or MHG?

Also where in the hell is present Scott Summers and Storm because we saw that he has a future slef that takes the mantle of Captain America. It doesn't make sense that Scott or Storm aren't at the X-Mansion or with the group that went to find Reed. Little details of were Scott and Storm are even if he is taking a vacation Hawaii would have been good. I think it would have made that scene were future Scott was dying to be more impactful if his present self was there to. But to leave out one of the bigger X-Men in a story were all the other main X-Men appear

I was disappointed that Liz and Johnny didn't interact more especially now that they have the same powers. Since both these two characters have already a nice history with one another that developed in Ultimate Spider-Man instead of having Ben hitting on Liz.

This whole two-part story is definetly also for those readers that have not read many stories about a diselent future Marvel Universe. And this future Ultimate Universe actually looked pretty peaceful since there was only the scene were the future X-Men hijack the train and the last couple scene. Coleiti and Plokaski could have done a better job by showing more of this possible future to give the readers more to care about for the next part. There isn't even enough detail given in the dialog about the possible future to give reason to know what these two teams will be fighting in the next annual in two weeks.

Now the art for this issue was not bad but having two or more artist on an issue almost never works. Case in point this issue with both Panosian and Brooks do not really have similar styles were there art easily transitions into one another. I especially did not like the first couple pages in the Baxter Building were the characters, especially Sue, were a bit to cartoony. This story would have been better of if each artist drew one annual since this is a two parter.

Anime Reviews: Bleach ep. 79 and Code Geass:Lelouch of the Rebellion ep. 19

Bleach 79: "Yoshino's Decision of Death"
Continuing the the filler Bount arc this was probably one of the best episodes of this filler arc. It is surprising that we get another fight just shortly after the fight Ichigo had with Udagawa, Ichinose, and Kariya at the mansion. I think this is the first time Bleach actually has more than one fight in the same episode taking place in the same location. Now while there were three battles going on at Kariya's destroyed mansion the main fight was definetly Yoshino vs. Kariya. Now while the fight did not last as long as I would have liked the animation for the fight was definetly great. And we did get to find out that the reason Kariya is stronger than the rest of the Bounts is because he has fused with his Doll. I was a bit sad that Yoshino has been killed of but her death seems to have lead for a much greater threat for Ichigo and the Soul Society.

Episode Rating: 8/10

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion 19: "Island of the Gods"
Now while this episode did not contain any action it did help flesh out four of the major characters in Code Geass. Now while this episode used the the overused story in anime of four characters from stuck on an island with each character paired up with a person from the opposite side (Lelouch/Euphemia and Suzaku/Kallen) the character work in this episode made it so it is not as annoying as it could had been. This episode did serve up some fanservice with Kallen cleaning up at the waterfall. While I enjoyed all four characters I actually enjoyed the pair of Lelouch and Euphemia. I thought that it was nice to see these two long lost siblings spending some nice quiet time together. It was funny seeing Euphy picking on Lelouch attempt to get some food. Also it is going to be interesting to see what the reprecussions of Lelouch giving Suzaku the "Live on" command with his geass. While I do not expect anything to severe to happen to Suzaku since he is one of the major characters in the series it will be interesting to see what actually happens to Suzaku next episode and if Lelouch/Zero will try and save him again.

Episode Rating: 8.7/10

Pull List for 9/10/08 and Some Comic News

Ultimate Origins #4 - I really liked the last issue of Ultimate Origins and the updating of some long time Marvel characters. And from the looks of the solicits the connections between a lot of the characters in the Ultimate Marvel Universe is going to start to come together. So it will be interesting to see what Bendis has up his sleeve for this issue.

Ultimate X-Men/Fantastic Four Annual #1 - Even though I have not read Ultimate X-Men and Fantastic Four for a while the rumor that these are going to be the two titles being cancelled after Ultimatum should make this annual an interesting read. Along with Ultimate Origins this annual is said to be connected to Loeb's Ultimatum mini-series should definetly peak the interest of fans in the Ultimate Universe.

Speaking of the Ultimate Universe Newsarama put up an interview with Mark Millar talking about Millar's return to the Ultimate Universe in a new series. The new series will be called "Ultimate Avengers" and will have four six part stories with a different A-list artist drawing one of the four storylines. If you are interested in reading the interview click here.

Marvel made an announcement here in there Las Vegas convention about what those mysterious images that have been showing up in the Comic-cons this summer. Evedently the images are promotional images for a new Marvel Universe called Marvel Noir. This new universe is suppose to contain the same characters from the regular Marvel Universe and place them in new (or old) roles in a completly different universe. IGN has an interview with David Hine, writer for "Spider-Man Noir," and Fabrice Sapolsky, who are the architechs of this new universe. Click here for the interview. Comic Book Resources also has an interview with creative team of "X-Men Noir" Fred Van Lente and Dennis Calero (click here).

Marvel also made another announcement about a future story titled "Dark Reign." Currently it is not known if this is connected to the recently announced "War of Kings" or another separate event in the Marvel Universe. Though I doubt this is Marvel's next big event since Marvel has come out and said that 2009 will be a quiet year in terms of a big Summer Event to build up the next big cross-over for the company. For some details on "Dark Reign" click here.

Green Lantern #34 Review

Creative Team
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Ivan Reis
Inkers: Oclair Albert and Ivan Reis
Colorist: Randy Mayor

Issue Rating
Story: 8/10
Art: 8/10
Overall: 8/10

Issue Summary
Near the grave of Martin and Jessica Jordan, the parents of Hal Jordan, Hal and Sinestro are fighting Atrocitus without the use of there power rings as William Hand (the future Green Lantern villain known as Black Hand) looks on. Atrocitus continues to blast Hal and Sinestro with their on Green Lantern energy he absorbed into his device. Hal and Sinestro are able to get out of the line of fire long enough for Sinestro to summon his Green Lantern power battery to recharge both his and Hal's powers.

As Hal and Sinestro recharge their powers Atrocitus starts to chase after William to kill and take the power death William has in him. Before Atrocitus is able to get a hold on William he is attacked by the repowered Hal and Sinestro. Even with their powers back Atrocitus still dominates the fight and smashes Sinestro with a yellow trackter. Hal then uses his all his rage and uses it to construct a massive jet to destroy the yellow trackter Atrocitus was holding above his head. Sinestro takes this oppurtunity to place the finishing blow to Atrocitus with a huge Killowag contrut with his ring.

Hal goes to check on William but William just runs away with the device Atrocitus was using. Sinestro than tells Hal he is just a rookie and that he cannot pierce the spectrum barrier. Hal has enough of Sinestro's lecture and has his ring take him to Carl Ferris.

Hal arrives at Carl's house and knocks on the door letting himself in when Carol opens the door. Hal starts to look through the whole house for Carl only to find that Carl is in his sick bead. Carol tells Hal that since Hal's dad accident Carl felt so guilty for causing his best friends death that it affected his health to the point he is now. Carol also tells Hal that it has been her running Ferris Air this whole time while saying that she is just acting as a mediator for Carl so that people don't think he is sick. Hal apologizes to Carol and tells Carol that she is not alone. Hal and Carol then kiss on the porch.

Later in the middle of the desert Hal uses his power ring to make an image of his father when he was a pilot. Sinestro than interupts Hal's quiet moment and gives him another lecture. Sinestro than tells Hal he is still a rookie and has a lot to learn about being a Green Lantern. As Hal and Sinestro shake hands they get a message from their power rings telling them they have broken the rules of time alloted for officers to interact and must return to Oa to be discipline. End of issue.

Highlights of the Issue

"I have the power"

"Sinestro lays the smacketh down on Atrocitus ass with a Killowag construct"

"This isn't what Hal expected to see or do"

"It looks like Hal and Sinestro have to go to the principles office"

Review
Green Lantern #34 continues the story of "Secret Origins" and while the past five issues were nothing but average retelling the same story most Green Lantern and Hal Jordan fans know this was the first issue that was not only entertaining but this issue actually added to a character's origin.

I will talk about that in a bit but I know that there are some fans that are pissed of whole "Secret Origin " story but I think it is necessary for Johns to try to get new readers up to speed with Hal Jordan's history. This story is meant to be new reader freindly and for those people that just got into Green Lantern during "The Sinestro Corp Wars." That is the important thing about this story because there were a lot of fans that got into Green Lantern because of "The Sinestro Corp Wars" and Johns knows that and has given the oppurtunity for those new readers to catch of with the origin of Hal Jordan without having to buy the back issues telling this origin.

Now while this is a new reader friendly story there is still plenty to entertain new readers once you get past this story being a retelling of a known origin to long time fans. But for long time Green Lantern fans they should notice the tweaking Johns did to the origins of William Hand (aka Black Hand) and furthering the future Red Lantern Atrocitus role. Both characters are suppose to play a large role in the upcoming "Blackest Night" storyline next year so it is good to see that Johns is using this origins story to futher develop major players for future stories.

As I said before Johns did some tweaking to William Hand's origin who became the Green Lantern villain Black Hand. The tweaking Johns did is to make the energy absorbing device Black Hand has used against while fighting the Green Lantern actually be a device Black Hand stole from Atricitus instead of him constructing the device himself. This adds more of a connection between Black Hand and the Green and Red Lanterns. Also with Black Hand's appearance in DC Universe #0 in front of the Black Lantern power battery the addition of Atrocitus talking about Black Hand connection to death adds to the reason he will probably end up being the leader if the Black Lanterns.

On Atrocitus origin this help build up Atrocitus as a Green Lantern villain and a member to the Red Lanterns. Throughout this story the reader can see why Atrocitus is chosen to be a Red Lantern with all the rage he showed in his battle with Hal and Sinestro. Also as seen in this issue Atrocitus was enough of a threat without a power ring to take on and dominate the fight with Sinestro and Hal. This helps not only build the threat of Atrocitus but also the Red Lanterns who currently only have three members in their group. And considering the storyline that follows "Secret Origin" is "Rage of the Red Lanterns" we will probably see more of Atrocitus soon enough.

Again the strength of this story has been with Hal and various future allies and enemies. In this issue we see the start of Hal's friendship with Sinestro that is doomed to fail and his growing closer to Carrol Ferris. The most interesting relationship is the Hal and Sinestro because of the inevitable down fall of these two mortal enemies. I really like how Hal Jordan acted like a complete rookie with a lot of anger while still showing the potential that leads him to become the leader and one of the greatest Green Lanterns in history. And while it looks like Hal and Sinestro are going to be punished I only expect the Guardians to have Sinestro become Hal's teacher and partner to teach him to be a Green Lantern since it is only some time after Sinestro become's Hal's teacher that Sinestro becomes evil.

Now even though I thought this was an aboce average issue it is sill the case that is just a retelling of Hal Jordan's origin that I already knew. And because of this being a retelling of an origin many long time fans will see a lot of predictability to the story which I can understand that it would be a turn of to them.

Also because of this being a retelling of Hal's origin I think I would recommend new readers to wait for this story to come out on trade paperback form since this story will probably read much better when it is collected in TPB form.

Ivan Reis served up plenty of great artwork and did a great job on the the Atrocitus vs Hal and Sinestro fight. My favorite part of the fight was when Sinestro used his power ring to construct an image of Killowag to put the finishing blow to Atrocitus. I thought it was both awsome and funny at the same time.