October 30, 2020: Nova, Excalibur, and X-Men/Fantastic Four

Excalibur Vol. 1 #38 by Scott Lobdell and Mark Badger (1991) This issue is really just a collection of contrived fights. It’s fun, but much less interesting than the preceding issue. At the very least, Lobdell somewhat lampshades how contrived the entire storyline is. Maybe I have bad reading comprehension, but reading this directly after

October 29, 2020: Nova, Excalibur, and X-Men

Excalibur Vol. 1 #37 by Scott Lobdell and Mark Badger (1991) It’s almost a shame that I know that Alan Davis will be returning to the series after this arc, because it just makes me wish that I was already at that point. This is a very solid issue, though. Lobdell continues to capture the

October 28, 2020: Nova, Excalibur, and Wolverine

Excalibur: Weird War III by Michael Higgins and Tom Morgan (1990) Hmm, not the biggest fan of this one. It tries to be funny and serious at the same time, and it’s dealing with subject matter that probably shouldn’t get that treatment. The art is very different. I think it’s good in a vacuum, but

October 27, 2020: Nova, New Mutants, and Hellions

New Mutants Summer Special by Ann Nocenti and Bret Blevins (1990) What a weird, fun issue. Ann Nocenti’s complete lack of subtlety is honestly hilarious, but it doesn’t mean the issue is any worse off. Nocenti nails the voices of all four New Mutants featured. This is the best Warlock we’ve seen since Doug’s funeral.

October 26, 2020: Nova, X-Factor, and New Mutants

X-Factor Vol. 1 #68 by Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio (1991) This storyline is a weird study on pacing and explanation. We get a lot of exposition to set things up, but when we get to the climax, things just start to happen, with the only explanation being a caption box attempting to justify it.

October 25, 2020: Nova, X-Factor, and Sandman

X-Factor Vol. 1 #67 by Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio (1991) I’m not a fan of how big Apocalypse is here. The fake-out death was poorly done. Of course the main characters weren’t all going to die like that. Why even try? Grade: B Nova Vol. 4 #4-5 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, and Sean

October 24, 2020: Nova, X-Factor, and Sandman

X-Factor Vol. 1 #66 by Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio (1991) It’s interesting to view this arc in retrospect. It isn’t a bad arc by any means, but it’s striking how many things seem to happen solely to set up the upcoming X-Men series. These wouldn’t be noticeable in the moment, where you didn’t know

October 23, 2020: Annihilation, Nova, X-Factor, and Sandman

X-Factor Vol. 1 #65 by Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio (1991) Louise Simonson is now off the title, and though I think less favorably than most of her runs on X-Factor and New Mutants, it will be interesting to see how the title begins to shift in tone. This storyline is clearly heading toward X-Men