X-Book Power Rankings, Hadestown, and Review Round-Up
Monday, February 17, 2025
The Week That Was 0217/25
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
X-amining Deadpool #5
In a Nutshell
Monday, February 10, 2025
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
X-amining Excalibur #109
Monday, February 3, 2025
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
X-amining Domino #1-3
In a Nutshell
Writer: Ben Raab
Penciler: David Perrin
Inkers: Harry Candelario
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors: Joe Rosas
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Monday, January 27, 2025
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
X-amining X-Force #66
In a Nutshell
Writer: John Francis Moore
Penciler: Adam Pollina
Inker: Mark Morales
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Marie Javins & Team Bucce
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Plot
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
X-amining Generation X #27
In a Nutshell
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Penciler: Chris Bachalo & Pop Mhan
Inker: Al Vey & Scott Hanna
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Marie Javins & Doctor Martin
Editor: Bob Harras
Plot
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
X-amining Cable #43
May 1997
Writers: Todd Dezago with Brian Vaughn
Pencilers: Randy Green and Chap Yaep
Inker: Scott Hana
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Mike Thomas
Editor: Mark Powers
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
X-amining X-Men (vol. 2) #64
In a Nutshell
Plot: Scott Lobdell
Pencils: Carlos Pacheco
Inks: Art Thibert
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Chris Lichtner, Aron Lusen & Liquid Color
Editor: Bob Harras
Plot
Monday, September 16, 2024
Transformers #1 (September 1984) – The Commercial, Not the Comic
Gene Kendall returns again -- I guess I threatened to do this, so here we are. Having exhausted the known archives of animated G. I. Joe commercials for the Marvel series, it does make a certain amount of sense to cover the other Marvel/Hasbro collaboration of the day, those wily robots in disguise.
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
X-amining Wolverine #113
In a Nutshell
Script: Larry Hama
Pencils: Leinil Francis Yu
Inks: Edgar Tadeo
Letters: RS & Comicraft
Colors: Joe Rosas
Editor: Mark Powers
Plot
Inside his apartment, Wolverine battles the possessed mime who attacked him. During their fight, the mysterious box Wolverine was given to protect by Zoe Culloden falls to the floor. It triggers a memory in Wolverine, of the first time he saw the box, years ago in Shanghai, after he saved an old man and his younger companion from members of the Japanese army led by Ogun. Outside, Helen approaches Wolverine's apartment, intent on apologizing for brushing him off. But when she sees Storm and Jean Grey, arriving to check on Wolverine, she holds back. As Jean and Storm enter the apartment, they interrupt the mime and briefly incapacitate him, allowing the entity possessing him takes control of Jean. When the possessed Jean telekinetically hurls a knife at Storm and Wolverine jumps in front of her, taking the knife instead. the act of selflessness briefly confuses the entity. This allows Jean to reassert control of her mind, forcing the entity to flee. It leaves the apartment, and passes into Helen, still waiting outside. Elsewhere, Daimon Hellstorm, the Son of Satan, spies the box in his scrying crystal, and decides to take action.
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
X-amining X-Factor #134
In a Nutshell
Writer: Howard Mackie
Penciler: Eric Battle
Inker: Art Thibert, Sam Parsons & Hackshack Studios
Letterer: Richard Starkings/Comicraft
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Kelly Corvese
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Plot
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
X-amining X-Man #27
In a Nutshell
Writer: Terry Kavanagh
Penciler: Roger Cruz
Inker: Bud LaRosa
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Mike Thomas
Editor: Jaye Gardner
Plot
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
X-amining Uncanny X-Men #344
In a Nutshell
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Guest Penciler: Melvin Rubi
Inkers: Joe Weems with Scott Hanna, Marlo Alquiza, Harry Candelario & Tim Townsend
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors: Steve Buccellato
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Monday, May 20, 2024
G. I. Joe #88, July 1989 (The Commercial, Not the Comic…The Final One)
Girl, each time I try
I just break down and cry
Pain in my head
Oh, I'd rather be dead
Spinning around and around
Although we've come
To the end of the road
Still I can't let go
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