X-Men Blue - Cullen Bunn
- Strangest - Continuing from the All-New X-Men, the young original X-men, transplanted to the "modern" 616 world by the furry blue Beast, have found a mentor of sorts in the reformed Magneto, although they don't fully trust him. Bobby has embraced his homosexuality, Beast is studying the mystic arts, and Angel has wings of cosmic fire for some reason. They meet a few new enemies and others, including Bastion, who wants to save mutantkind so he can get on with his original programming of destroying it, the Marauders who want Wolverine's alternate-universe son back, and the Raksha, a violent mutant rescue gang on Genosha. It's a wonderfully written book, with humor and adventure, weaving together lots of the more bizarre threads of X-Men history. [4]
- Toil and Trouble - Hank's foray into mysticism garners him more trouble than he imagined, as he has made a deal with the Goblin Queen, who brings out some alternate reality versions of the X-Men (the "Hex-Men") to take over their hideout. Meanwhile, Angel and Wolverine's alternate reality son investigate Miss Sinister's evil doings involving secondary mutations. The resolution of the conflict is a bit abrupt, but that doesn't matter; the enjoyment here is in seeing what Bunn does with all the convoluted loose ends of X-Men lore. [4]
- Cross Time Capers - The Blue team, now including a vampire Storm from an alternate dimension, are suddenly sent by Magneto on a time-hopping mission which takes them to meet the X-Men 2009 in a dystopia based on their own ideals, an alternate team called Generation X, and more, until facing their old enemies the Brotherhood (led by alternate dimension Xavier Jr). More excellent X-craziness, with the most amazing mass battle scenes! And Polaris comes to stay as well. [4] [this continues in X-Men + Venom: Poison X]
- Cry Havok - With the main team in space with Venom, Magneto enlists Jimmy and Bloodstorm, along with the exiled Marauders, to try to stop Emma Frost and Havok's alliance with Miss Sinister and Bastion (the fusion of Master Mold and Nimrod) to quadruple the mutant population and take over the earth. Whew! The alternate earth, time-jumps, and decades of overlapping lore make this a sometimes confusing read even though I've read it from the beginning and know a fair bit about X-Men stuff. But it's a fun ride all the same; where else do you find a bad guy wanting to save mutants so he can fill his prime directive to kill them? [4]
- Surviving the Experience - Magneto is out to kill (again?) in order to protect mutants, starting with his main target Emma Frost. The team tries to protect her and convince him to change his ways. He time jumps to yet another grim alternate reality, and the Magneto of today tries to prevent it? I don't know, it's a little confusing. Also, Daken and the Poisoned Jimmy, both laternate universe songs of Wolverine, fight it out. X-Men lore is so convoluted. This is the last volume, and a good thing, because for me the "youngsters out of time, trying to find themselves" conceit is pretty played out, replaced with the more typical X-battles. [3.5]
X-Men + Venom: Poison - Colleen Bunn
When some symbiote-enhanced mercenaries capture Cyclops' dad and the Starjammers, the Blue team shanghais Venom to come help rescue them. It's a promising set-up, but there's not much fun in it. Not exactly gory, but it reminds me of the '90s "extreme" vibe, especially when the Blues get attached to symbiotes of their own. [3.5]
Xoc: The Journey of a Great White - Matt Dembicki [Oni]
An only slightly anthropomorphized look at a shark's migration to spawn,
a journey fraught with natural peril and many signs of humanity's
despoiling of the oceans. Decent art, minimal dialogue, somber
narration. Well researched and depressing. [4]
