May 3 – X-Factor, Fantastic Four, and New Mutants

X-Factor Vol. 1 #97 by J.M. DeMattais and Jan Duursema (1993) The Polaris and Madrox subplots are interesting, but I can’t stand what’s being done to Rahne lately. Grade: B+ Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #611 / FF Vol. 1 #23 by Jonathan Hickman, Ryan Stegman, and Nick Dragotta (2012) The finale of the Hickman run

May 2 – X-Men and Fantastic Four

X-Men Vol. 2 #28-29 by Fabian Nicieza and Andy Kubert (1994) Nicieza is really hitting his stride right now. These are two more mostly stand-alone issues, and they both are hits. I could do without the nonconsensual kissing that Sabretooth does, though. Grade: A- Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #610 / FF Vol. 1 #22 by

May 1 – X-Men Unlimited, Fantastic Four, and X-Men

X-Men Unlimited Vol. 1 #4 by Scott Lobdell and Richard Bennett (1994) This issue goes out of its way to make Mystique’s backstory weird and confusing. This could have been handled in a consistent way that doesn’t hurt continuity. Grade: B- Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #609 / FF Vol. 1 #21 by Jonathan Hickman, Ryan

Apr. 30 – X-Men Unlimited, Fantastic Four, and Cable

No time today, so just grades will do! X-Men Unlimited Vol. 1 #3 by Fabian Nicieza and Mike McKone (1993) Grade: B- Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #608 / FF Vol. 1 #20 by Jonathan Hickman, Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Nick Dragotta (2012) Grade: A- Cable Vol. 1 #6 by Fabian Nicieza and Dwayne Turner (1993)

Apr. 29 – X-Force, Fantastic Four, and Wolverine

X-Force Vol. 1 #31 by Fabian Nicieza and Tony Daniel (1994) Excellent issue, one of Nicieza’s best thus far in his career on the X-books. Can we get more slow issues like this? Grade: A Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #607 / FF Vol. 1 #19 by Jonathan Hickman, Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Gabriel Hernandez Walta (2012)

Apr. 28 – Excalibur and Fantastic Four

Excalibur Vol. 1 #73-74 by Richard Ashford, Terry Shoemaker, and Ian Churchill (1994) These are the worst issues of Excalibur to this point. The narrator is overused and annoying. All the characters constantly say or think what they are doing in weird ways. Rachel suddenly needs some guy’s help to control her powers. Moira suddenly

Apr. 27 – Excalibur, Fantastic Four, and X-Force

Excalibur Vol. 1 #72 by Richard Ashford and Ken Lashley (1993) I really did not enjoy the Lobdell issues that came after the Davis run. Richard Ashford takes it up a notch, with maybe the worst writing on the series so far. Every character has no nuance. Every page is littered with redundant thought balloons.

Apr. 26 – Sabretooth: Death Hunt, Fantastic Four, and Cable

Sabretooth Vol. 1 #4 by Larry Hama and Mark Texeira (1993) I came out of this series with much less understanding of the Creed lineage than before. The artwork saves it from being boring. Grade: B+ FF Vol. 1 #16 / Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #605 by Jonathan Hickman, Nick Dragotta, Steve Epting, and Ron

Apr. 25 – Sabretooth: Death Hunt and Fantastic Four: Forever

Sabretooth Vol. 1 #2-3 by Larry Hama and Mark Texeira (1993) Texeira actually convinced me that his art is really good in these two issues. I still didn’t like Hama’s dialogue much, but it’s much better than his Wolverine run. Grade: B+ FF Vol. 1 #15 / Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #604 by Jonathan Hickman,

Apr. 24 – X-Force, Fantastic Four: Forever, and Sabretooth: Death Hunt

X-Force Vol. 1 #30 by Fabian Nicieza and Tony Daniel (1994) Shatterstar, Warpath, and Siryn are finally turning into realized characters. I have to think their lack of development is the reason Feral got taken off the book. Theresa returns to Cassidy Keep, where she claims she grew up. Didn’t she not know her father