Providing the Grade X-Termination Alpha, GI JOE Special Missions #1, and more
Providing the Grade
In Providing the Grade Adam Black will provide a grade for some item or items from pop culture.
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS SO CONSIDER THIS YOUR WARNING!!!!
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X-Termination Alpha
I am reviewing this book for our website only because I figured someone should. I used to be an X-Men fan back in the 90s but I have branched out to other corners of the Marvel Universe. Anyway, this is the first part of a crossover event that is taking place between Astonishing X-Men, Age of Apocalypse, and X-Treme X-Men. The problem I had reading this is that I don’t like any of these books but I figured that with this being an Alpha issue it should be a satisfactory jumping on point (a phrase that I loathe but it has to be used) for a new reader like me. Unfortunately I was wrong.
The story starts when Age of Apocalypse (AoA) Nightcrawler forces Dark Beast to use a Dreaming Celestial to transport them back to their original world. Wolverine and his team of X-Men are looking for AoA Nightcrawler because he’s killed some people during his stay. Needless to say the whole thing goes off the rails due to the interference of the 616 X-Men team. At this point the AoA Beast and Nightcrawler wind up on their world where the 616 X-Men and reality hopping X-Treme X-Men follow. Now because of Nightcrawler and Beast’s actions the AoA world is in danger of being destroyed.
X-Termination Alpha Creative Grade
Story: I had the most problem following this story. This seemed like more of a story centering on the X-Men from the 616 universe and failed to explain more about the characters from the X-Treme X-Men and Age of Apocalypse books. Given the fact that we have 3 writers (David Lapham, Marjorie Liu, and Greg Pak) that are capable of handling a great story I feel they missed the mark. Also I thought that AoA Nightcrawler has been acting like a bitch since he came over to the 616 in my opinion. During the AoA back in 1995 he was one of my favorite characters. Grade: D
Art: I felt the art by David Lopez was middle of the road and didn’t really do it for me. Sorry. Grade: C
Overall Production Grade: C-
I will not be checking out any other issues of this crossover (unless Tim makes me)
Other Stuff I checked out lately:
G.I. Joe Special Missions #1
I think that IDW handles their 80’s licensed properties very well. Last month’s G.I. Joe series launch focused on a media friendly Joe team that will be the public face for our favorite anti terrorism unit while Special Missions will deal with Scarlett’s team of operatives handling operations that will not be made public. The story by Chuck Dixon is excellent as always but the pencils by Paul Gulacy were just OK. Grade: B+
Justice League of America #2
It usually takes more than one issue for me to find out if I’m going to follow a title. I feel that JLofA will be a title that I followed. The team is still getting put together but we get to see more interaction between the team: including a funny scene between Vibe and Hawkman. Geoff Johns’s story appears to be leading towards a show down with what appears to be the Secret Society of Super Villains. David Finch’s work is good as always. There is a back up story in this issue illustrated by the late Scott Clark. I thought he was a good artist that deserved a lot more notoriety. Rest in Peace. Grade: A
Investigation Discovery: Sorry I had to add this one. The tag for this network is: “Your Guilty Pleasure: and sadly it is. I dig watching shows about people getting betrayed by their family members and friends. I consume a diet of the following shows: Scorned: Love Kills, Blood Relatives, Nightmare Next Door, and Who the (Bleep)…
Grade: A+ (or Adam Black has problems) This deserves an even longer post. Honorable mentions go out to Deceived on TVOne and American Greed on CNBC.
Thanks,
Adam Black
Adam Black can be heard co-hosting the KLIQNation Podcast but right now he’s watching Deceived on TVOne.
This review is written in partnership with Pop Culture Network. They can be found at their website http://www.popculturenetwork.com/
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Doug Turner