Tuesday, March 5, 2024
X-amining Excalibur #108
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
X-amining X-Force #65
In a Nutshell
Writer: John Francis Moore
Penciler: Adam Pollina
Inker: Mark Morales
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Marie Javins
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
X-amining Generation X #26
In a Nutshell
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Artists: Joe Bennet & Joe Pimentel
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Marie Javins
Editor: Bob Harras
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
G. I. Joe #80 - November 1988 (The Commercial, Not the Comic)
Nobody beats G. I. Joe
Over the land and deep down below
Cobra BUGGs got an eye out for Joe
Nobody beats G. I. Joe
A Real American Hero!
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
X-amining Cable #42
April 1997
Writer: Todd Dezago
Penciler: Randy Green
Inker: Scott Hana
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Mike Thomas
Editor: Bob Harras
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
X-amining X-Factor #133
In a Nutshell
Writer: Howard Mackie
Art: Jeff Matsuda & Art Thibert
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Kelly Corvese
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Plot
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
X-amining Wolverine #112
In a Nutshell
Script: Larry Hama
Pencils: Anthony Winn
Inks: Dan Green
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors: Joe Rosas & Graphic Colorworks
Editor: Mark Powers
Plot
Wolverine arrives in the East Village, where he stops two thugs from hassling a woman and a man. The woman, Kirsten, offers to help Wolverine get an apartment in her building. Meanwhile, a passing street mime is lured into a basement by an evil spirit. Later, Wolverine calls Jean and explains that he's attempting to prove he can live in the real world. But over the next few days, as he explores his new neighborhood, Wolverine finds it difficult to not blame himself for the damage caused by Professor Xavier's transformation into Onslaught. Seeking a job, Kirsten directs him towards a construction crew rebuilding in the wake of Onslaught. The foreman, Helen, makes it clear she abhors violence but brings Wolverine aboard. But when she and Wolverine later come across the thugs destroying Wolverine's motorcycle, she snaps and attacks them, helping Wolverine chase them off. With Helen offering no explanation, Wolverine enters his apartment, where the mime, now wearing a sinister smile, is waiting for him.
Monday, June 19, 2023
G. I. JOE #74 - August 1988 (The Commercial, Not the Comic)
Destro's back
On the attack
Out to conquer the world on his own
But nobody beats G. I. Joe
A Real American Hero
Friday, May 5, 2023
Efficient and Divine - Gene Kendall's New Crime Thriller (Also, Free Stuff)
Quick-witted and clean-cut Mason Mackay has something dark within. Struggling to accept his sinister urges, Mason must choose between those he loves and those who deserve brutal justice.
Gene Kendall here, once again acting like a hog and using a blog post to plug his projects. I've been at work for a few years now on Efficient and Divine, a small-town crime thriller series. (They're available on Kindle Unlimited, which is currently running a free trial promotion.) The first novel Almost Heaven is an origin story of sorts for Mason Mackay, a handsome documentarian who discovers a staggering capacity for violence.
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
60 Years of X - 1970
1970 X-Men Comics & Appearances: X-Men #66-68, X-Men Annual #1, Amazing Spider-Man #92
Monday, March 13, 2023
G. I. JOE #72 - June 1988 (The Commercial, Not the Comic)
Nobody beats G. I. Joe
Nobody beats G. I. Joe
Fighting hard against the Cobra foe
Nobody beats G. I. Joe
A Real American Hero!
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
X-amining X-Men (vol. 2) #63
In a Nutshell
Plot: Scott Lobdell
Pencils: Carlos Pacheco
Inks: Art Thibert
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors: Chris Lichtner , Aron Lusen & Liquid Graphocs
Editor: Bob Harras
Plot
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Saturday, February 25, 2023
Monday, February 13, 2023
60 Years of X - 1968
Year 6: 1968
Thursday, February 9, 2023
X-amining Classic X-Men #26 - Patreon First
In a Nutshell
Writer: Tom Orzechowski, Chris Claremont (additional pages)
Artist: John Bolton, Kieron Dwyer (additional pages)
Letters: Tom Orzechowski
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
X-amining X-Men Unlimited #14
In a Nutshell
Writer: Terry Kavanagh
Pencils: Jim Cheung
Inks: Andrew Pepoy
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Kevin Somerset
Editor: Kelly Corevese
Plot
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Thursday, February 2, 2023
X-amining X-Men: The Animated Series 4x04 - Patreon First
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
X-amining X-Man #26
In a Nutshell
Writer: Terry Kavanagh
Guest Penciler: Pascual Ferry
Inker: Jamie Mendoz & Howard Shack
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Mike Thomas
Editor: Jaye Gardner
Plot
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Monday, January 30, 2023
60 Years of X - 1966
Year 4: 1966
019 - Year 4 Cover: X-Men #28
Not a lot of great covers to choose from in '66. Werner Roth's cover to Banshee's first appearance stands out due to the red background & eerie spectral quality to Banshee & the energy created by the figure's movement.
Thursday, January 26, 2023
X-amining Classic X-Men #25 - Patreon First
In a Nutshell
Writer: Ann Nocenti, Chris Claremont (additional pages)
Artist: John Bolton, Kieron Dwyer (additional pages)
Letters: Tom Orzechowski, Michael Heisler (additional pages)
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
X-amining Uncanny X-Men #343
In a Nutshell
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Penciler: Joe Madureira
Inkers: Tim Townsend
Letters: Richard Starkings and Comicraft
Colors: Steve Buccellato and Team Bucce
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
60 Years of X - 1965
Year 3: 1965
1965 X-Men Comics: X-Men #10-17, Fantastic Four Annual #3
013 - Year 3 Cover: X-Men #13
On his way out in '65 (shifting to only doing layouts & covers), Kirby turns in some of the strongest covers of his run, w/several icon entries. I like this one just a smidge more than #12, the other Juggernaut cover.
Friday, January 20, 2023
Thursday, January 19, 2023
60 Years of X - 1964
Year 2: 1964
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
X-amining Deadpool #3 - Patreon First
In a Nutshell
Friday, January 6, 2023
60 Years of X - 1963
As an addendum/archive of my "60 Years of X" social media project, I will post the collective results of each year here upon its completion as a standalone post, and add the results to the running "60 Years of X" page (linked on the top of the left column on the home page) which will, by year's end, feature the entirety of the project and my favorite bits from each of the X-Men's sixty years of existence.
Year 1: 1963
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
X-amining Excalibur #107
Monday, December 19, 2022
X-amining X-Men: The Animated Series 4x03 - Patreon First
Friday, December 2, 2022
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
X-amining X-Force #64
In a Nutshell
Writer: John Francis Moore
Penciler: Anthony Castrillo & Mark Pajarillo
Inkers: John Holdredge & Marlo Alquiza
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Marie Javins
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Plot
Tuesday, November 22, 2022
The Week That Was 112222
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
X-amining Generation X #25
"The End"/ "Behind the Eight Ball" / "Cutting to the Chase" / "Putting Out the Fire" / "The Great Escape" / "Point of No Return" / "Enemy Mine" / "Duel" / "Splitting Heirs" / "On Land or Sea or Foam"
In a Nutshell
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Penciler: Chris Bachalo
Inker: Al Vey and Scott Hana
Letterer: Richard Starkings/Comicraft
Colorist: Vancata
Editor: Bob Harras
Plot
After secretly lurking in the school's biosphere, Black Tom executes his revenge plot against Banshee, capturing Monet, Paige, Chamber, Synch and Skin while taking control of Emma's body and letting his evil Mondo creation loose in the school. As Banshee fights his demented cousin, Bastion secretly arrives and captures Jubilee. He also executes the evil Mondo. Meanwhile, Franklin Richards, Artie, Leech, Tana Nile, Howard the Duck and Beverly Switzler are rescued from Black Tom by the Man-Thing. Black Tom proceeds to force Banshee and Emma to fight one another. Banshee refuses to hurt Emma, but she takes control of his mind and forces him to blast her with his sonic scream in order to save the students. Just then, Banshee realizes the kids Tom has captured are just lifeless shells, and Black Tom reveals he's sequestered the real kids somewhere safe. Suddenly, the overlooked Penance attacks Black Tom, slicing apart his plant body. Thousands of miles away, with Black Tom's influence lifted, a plant pod releases from the ocean floor and rises to the surface, where it opens and reveals the real Monet, Paige, Chamber, Skin and Synch, adrift in the middle of the ocean.
Tuesday, November 15, 2022
X-amining Cable #41
March 1997
Writer: Todd DeZago
Penciler: Steve Crespo
Inker: Scott Hana
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Mike Thomas
Separations: GCW
Editor: Mark Powers
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
The Runs: Chris Claremont & Paul Smith's Uncanny X-Men
Hey, if you want to hear me talk about the Claremont/Smith run on Uncanny X-Men — arguably the greatest X-Men run of all time — check out my buddy Ryan Alexander-Tanner's podcast The Runs, on which I recently appeared to do just that.
You can stream the episode directly from here, or listen on most of the usual podcast platforms of choice
Monday, October 31, 2022
X-amining X-Men: The Animated Series Season 1 Episode 1
Original Airdate
October 31 1992
Written by
Mark Edward Edens
Plot
After young mutant Jubilee's foster father reports her to the Mutant Control Agency, a Sentinel attacks her house, intent on capturing her. Jubilee has, however, snuck out to the local mall. The Sentinel tracks her there, drawing the attention of fellow mutants Storm, Rogue, Gambit & Cyclops, who destroy the Sentinel and take the unconscious Jubilee back to their mansion home. There, she encounters Beast, Morph, Wolverine, Jean Grey & Professor Xavier, and learns the group is called the X-Men a team dedicated to mastering their powers and achieving peaceful coexistence with the humans who often fear & hate mutants. Learning the Sentinels are the product of the Mutant Control Agency, the X-Men infiltrate their headquarters in order to destroy their files on mutants, but the agency's security forces are, unknownst to the X-Men, lying in wait for them.
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
X-amining X-Factor #132
In a Nutshell
Writer: Howard Mackie
Penciler: Jeff Matsuda
Inker: Art Thibert
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Kelly Corvese
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Plot
Monday, October 10, 2022
G. I. JOE #68 - February 1988 (The Commercial, Not the Comic)
Battle Force 2000
The secret force of G. I. Joe
Battle Force 2000
They can take on any foe
For G .I. Joe...a real American hero!
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
X-amining Wolverine #111
In a Nutshell
Script: Larry Hama
Pencils: Anthony Winn
Inks: Dan Green
Letters: Richard Starkings and Comicraft
Colors: Dana Moreshead
Separations: Graphic Colorworks
Editor: Bob Harras
Plot
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
X-amining Magneto #1-4
In a Nutshell
Plot: Peter Milligan
Inks: John Beatty, Mark Heike & Jim Sanders III (issue #4)
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors: Brad Vancata
Separations: Digital Chameleon
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
X-amining X-Men (vol. 2) #62
In a Nutshell
Plot: Scott Lobdell
Pencils: Carlos Pacheco
Inks: Art Thibert
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Chris Lichtner & Liquid Color
Editor: Bob Harras
Plot
Monday, August 29, 2022
X-amining X-Man #25
In a Nutshell
Nate and Jean Grey confront the revived Madelyne Pryor!
Writer: Terry Kavanagh
Pencilers: Roger Cruz with Casey Jones
Inks: Bud LaRosa with Jason Martin
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft AD
Colorist: Mike Thomas
Editor: Jaye Gardner
Plot
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
X-amining Uncanny X-Men #342
In a Nutshell
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Penciler: Joe Madureira
Inkers: Tim Townsend
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors: Steve Buccellato and Team Bucce!
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
X-amining Venom: Tooth and Claw #1-3
In a Nutshell
Script: Larry Hama
Pencils: Joe St. Pierre
Inks: Al Milgrom
Letters: Ken Lopez
Colors: Tom Smith
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Plot
As Eddie Brock, human host of Venom, is possessed by the villainous Dirt Nap, two young boys, Jerry and Rocky, are captured along with the symbiote Scream by an orb-like spaceship designed to hunt symbiotes which is seeking Venom. On orders from Chimera, Dirt Nap heads to the offices of Landau, Luckman and Lake, but finds Wolverine waiting there. When Emmet, a young LL&L agent, arrives, he determines that Dirt Nap is possessing Venom. During the ensuing fight, Venom is able to escape, but Wolverine is unable to kill Dirt Nap, as he is still possessing a young boy Wolverine tried to save during their first encounter. Venom, however, has no such compunctions, but he is hit by the suddenly-arriving orb. In the confusion, Dirt Nap escapes into a nearby warp chamber, followed by Venom and the orb, as well as Wolverine and Emmet, who give chase. During the ensuing fight, the orb opens and Dirt Nap possesses Scream, at which point Chimera enters the fray, at the head of a group of plasma wraiths.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
X-amining Onslaught Epilogue #1
In a Nutshell
Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Randy Green
Inkers: John Holdredge with Hilary Barta
Letters: Richard Starkings and Comicraft
Colors: Dan Moreshead
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Separations: Digital Chameleon
Monday, June 13, 2022
G. I. JOE: SPECIAL MISSIONS #28 - November 1988 (The Commercial, Not the Comic)
"The final issue— and it's a space-race blockbuster! The new Joe Space Shuttle is put to a high orbit combat test by the ultimate Cobra weapon— the Cobra Condor!"