Feb. 21 – Avengers: Siege, Uncanny X-Men, and Sandman

Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #299 by Scott Lobdell and Brandon Peterson (1993) This is a great issue, as are many that feature more talking than fighting. Here, we get conversations that drive the tension up, and further how we see the relationships between characters. Brandon Peterson is very good here. This is definitely my favorite

Feb. 17: Avengers: Siege, X-Men: A Skinning of Souls, and X of Swords

X-Men Vol. 2 #17 by Fabian Nicieza and Andy Kubert (1993) It’s a more dramatic shift out of X-Cutioner’s Song than the other X-books, and that’s a shame considering all three of them had fantastic post-event issues. I do appreciate a storyline focusing on Peter, who has been neglected in recent years. Grade: B+ Dark

Feb. 15: Avengers: Siege, Excalibur, and X of Swords

Excalibur Vol. 1 #58 by Alan Davis, Scott Lobdell, and Joe Madureira (1992) Decent for a half-fill in, but let’s get back to the main plot. I wish Lobdell did more with the dialogue between the two teams. Grade: B Dark Avengers Vol. 1 #13-14 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Deodato, Jr. (2010) I

Feb. 10: Dark Avengers, Uncanny X-Men, and Sandman: The Kindly Ones

Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #297 by Scott Lobdell and Brandon Peterson (1993) The art of Xavier is extremely weird in this issue. It makes him seem almost pervy in a way that is definitely not intended. The sentimental aspects are great, and I want to see more of it in the 90s. Grade: A- Dark

Feb. 9: Dark Avengers, X-Cutioner’s Song, and X of Swords

X-Force Vol. 1 #18 by Fabian Nicieza and Greg Capullo (1993) The conclusion to X-Cutioner’s Song is … ok? Cable isn’t going to die here when he literally has a solo series premiering like 3 months from now. Scott and Jean seem to be the only ones that have any clue at all why anything

Feb. 8: X-Men, Utopia, and Dark Avengers

X-Men Vol. 2 #16 by Fabian Nicieza and Andy Kubert (1993) It’s a bit odd that Nicieza seems to be deliberately not mentioning the fact that Cable is Scott’s son. It’s definitely implied, but the implication is still so heavy that he may as well just say it outright. At the same time, if you

Feb. 7: Utopia, X-Cutioner’s Song, and Sandman: The Kindly Ones

X-Factor Vol. 1 #86 by Peter David and Jae Lee (1993) I’m liking the Apocalypse team-up aspect of this, and Stryfe being generally batshit insane is good fun. Grade: B+ Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #514/Dark Avengers Vol. 1 #8 by Matt Fraction, Terry Dodson, and Luke Ross (2009) The Trask robot-people make the whole plot

Feb. 6: Utopia, X-Cutioner’s Song, and Sandman: The Kindly Ones

Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #296 by Scott Lobdell and Brandon Peterson (1993) The beginning of this issue was really confusing, but in a way where it seemed like there was a disconnect between Nicieza and Lobdell. Apocalypse teaming up with the X-Men is a pretty cool idea. Obviously this is something that happens all the

Feb. 5: Dark Avengers, Utopia, X-Cutioner’s Song, and Sandman: The Kindly Ones

X-Force Vol. 1 #17 by Fabian Nicieza and Greg Capullo (1992) There are still four issues left, and it feels like the X-Men have figured out all the mysteries. Styfe suddenly being very upset over his childhood is a bit out of nowhere, but he didn’t have a personality before so it isn’t all bad.

Feb. 4: New/Dark Avengers, X-Cutioner’s Song, and Sandman: The Kindly Ones

X-Men Vol. 2 #15 by Fabian Nicieza and Andy Kubert (1992) I think this is the third time the X-Men have been force fed like babies by an antagonist. I thought it was weird the first time. Kubert’s pencils are great, and he hasn’t been on the book very long. I prefer him a lot