RustonLF's Profile

There are a lot of things to like about this continuation of the Annihilation premise. Rosenberg uses this introductory issue to show just how much of a threat the villain of the series will be. There is a lot of action and the story moves along at a pace that helps build tension. The issue opens with the aftermath of a devastating attack. Rosenberg starts us out trying to catch up to what is goin g on. Next, we join a battle in progress and see the villain force the main antagonist to run. Finally, the battle comes to us and we see the villains invade in a complete inversion of the opening. The art is done in a traditional Marvel house style. Although the book is not stylized and will not stand out, I found that I loved it. Blastaar is a character that is meant to be incredibly powerful and intimidating. I feel that is not captured by most artist. Blastaar's design is very simple and he often comes off as a generic bad guy. Ramirez's design for Blastaar makes him seem menacing and powerful. When the design is paired with Rosenberg's voice for the character it really worked.
That leads me to one of the problems I have with this book. Despite what the cover may imply, the heroes shown on the cover are mostly not in this book. Aside from Nova the characters appear in a single panel foreshadowing their involvement. Even Nova is a supporting character that appears in the third act of this issue. I don't think the story suffered because of it. I love the tale that was told. I wished that the cover better reflected what I would have found in the book. I had no intention of buying it when I saw the solicitations. I happened to pick the book up in shop to glance at it and noticed this is actually a story about Blastaar and Annihilation working together. The egotistical duo is terrific together and makes an excellent pair. Having the villains as the main characters is very catchy. Playing into that might have helped sell the issue better for me.
While the introduction of the threat was well done I not sure I am sold on the rest of the series. I probably will pick up the issue with Beta Ray Bill since he has always been a favorite. I do have a soft spot for Nova. I think that is another problem with the series first issue. Unless you have a connection to the characters involved this will not bring you closer. This is a very well done issue overall. It's worth picking up for the villain duo alone. I would recommend a try if you want to see a fun story outside of the usual Marvel venues.more

There are some very interesting elements in this book. The ties to continuity I enjoyed. Ties like Stryfe's belief that he is the true Nathan Summers which would come up in X-Cutioner's Song. Another good tie was Ahab and his hounds escaping after the Extermination series. The early version of Stryfe's mutant terrorist has some interesting characters and interactions as well. Zero is given more to do than just be a mode of transportation. The new characters create some potential for future foes of Kid Cable. What didn't always hit for me in this issue was the attempt to build Stryfe's self-doubt and inexperience as a leader. This issue focuses on Styfe and his attempt to find Nathan Dayspring (Kid Cable). Stryfe's motivation seems to be nothing more than wanting Kid Cable gone so there is no confusion over who is the clone. Stryfe does comment about how he will be proving himself to Apocalypse in his actions, but it's not really clear how. Stryfe and his team of terrorist travel to the past and promise mutants a paradise if they follow them. The paradise never comes and the mutants are trained to be soldiers instead. The issue also explains the connection between Stryfe and the Transian government. The issue is a way of tying all the pieces together from previous issues and let us in on what is happening. Issues that are there to explain the story so far are hardly ever exciting. This issue is really no different from those. It's a necessary filler to give us the pieces we need, but not a memorable issue. I thought the art was enjoyable. The designs make everyone look good including a prototype Stryfe armor. Unless you are invested in the X-Force to this point you won't find anything of interest in this issue.more

I am a really big Kamala fan. Ever since she came on the scene I loved her optimism and energy. I picked up this issue for that reason alone. I was not excited about the flip book concept. I was a bit unsure about seeing Kamala team up with Peter again. The team-up in Amazing Spider-Man was fun but the two are so similar that it was a little forgettable. I had low expectations for the book going i n. After having read it I was excited at the possibilities going forward for Ms. Marvel team-ups. What I thought was a gimmick in layout worked really well for the story being told. Ewing used the format to highlight the two characters mindsets going into the same conflict. The conversations foreshadowed the cliffhanger really hard, but in a way that I didn't mind at all. The story is a fun and old school tale. The issue might not go down as one of Spider-Man (Or Ms. Marvel's) most memorable moments, but it captures the fun that makes the characters so loveable. The art looks great and felt like it does both characters justice. If you are wanting a fun title to read I would definitely recommend this issue.more

Rob Liefeld has said that the Major X storyline was one he came up with back in 1992 when he was working on the X-Force title. After I read this issue I felt that statement is obviously true. The art in this book felt as if Rob had dusted off some old pages and turned them in with some new dialog. To be fair many of the panels are lifted from Rob's own work in New Mutants volume one number 98. The panels show different perspectives and include different characters, but are very similar in artistic skill. The one thing Liefeld has always had in his art is high energy. This issue did keep that high energy with plenty of action. The art is not the main issue with the comic, however. The issue fell apart for me with the lack of story. We get some expositionary narration from Major X explaining (but not really showing) the mutant utopia he lives in. Major's world which he calls X-istence, is falling apart with little explanation. Major and his partner (who may be a relative to Beast) escapes to the main Marvel universe around the time X-Force is forming. A fight breaks out between the new arrivals and the X-Force because that is how superheroes great each other. The most confusing part for me was that Wolverine is there with absolutely no explanation. Wolverine has no connection to X-Force at this time. If this book takes place during New Mutants 98, Wolverine would still have no reason to be present. The story lacks engaging details only giving you enough plot to move the action forward. Hopefully a clear distinction on when this takes place and why is better explored in future issues. The issue gives you a couple twist to try and keep you coming back next issue. As a reader of the New Mutants/X-Force series when it was releasing I could see how this story would fit in that timeline and keep you interested. This story is so far removed at this point that it might not have that effect. It pains me to say it because I love the era this is trying to capture, but I would pass on this issue. Perhaps the collection will be worth it when all is said and done.more

This issue acts as a connecting story before the next arc begins. The Avengers have just saved the world from a Celestial threat and are now deciding on who will stay to be in the roster. A new chairman of the team is named. A new headquarters (an ancient Celestial equipped with Wakandian technology) is established for the group. There is no true conflict or emergency in the issue, but the issue i s still entertaining. The concept of there being a rotating spot in the team roster should make for an interesting twist to the series. Each arc can introduce a new or returning member similar to what the Defenders did at their start. The constant change should keep things fresh.
The art of the issue is also a change. Instead of the exaggerated and bold style of McGuinness, there is a softer and more traditional look. It looks pretty and makes the scope of the new headquarters stand out.
If you did not read the previous arc this is a pretty good place to start the series. You get an idea of where the characters are at. You get a sense of what the team is like. There is an explanation in the issue of how the team will operate. If you have been reading the series this is a nice breather before the book moves on.more