As you can see in the panel above, it's been modernized. Nothing really has been changed except for the addition of a certian character that i don't think was attached to his original orgin. It even has the famous tractor scene.
A really cool thing that is brought up within the issue? How about the idea that instead of hating and fearing mutants like America, Russia would want to control the power and harness it as a weapon...now that would make a cool What If?? What if Colossus became Russia's Super Soldier. Nonetheless it's a good read with great art so pick it up!
Why is this different from what we've scene? well the rest of the universe has aged quite a bit and instead of simply bringing in new mutants that seem to just add to the x-men universe, these guys are pretty much the replacements! You have a very old Beast watching the danger room, and X-23 running the training sessions a job historically given to wolverine. So far no sign of other x-men other than the fact that Prof X is dead. Revealed so far...Oliver Raven son of Rogue and Gambit, Becka Munroe daughter of Storm and unknown father (i suspect wolveirne or black panther), and Pavel Rasputin grandson of Colossus. While the book seems fairly short and dosen't cover too much ground, you are treated to a nice sketch book that details each character. Clues are dropped that this might possibly be in the same timeline as X-men: The End. An interesting read with alot of potential.
So it's finally here, the result of all of Grant Morrison's build up over the last year or so. The rumor is that Batman will change forever!! Possibilities are...Bruce finally gives up the mantel, or might even get dead!
This issue is perhaps some of the best Tony Daniel work i've seen. While not alot is given away in this issue yet, there is the return of a very key character that would have to be involved if Batman were to infact die. Batman RIP is a 20 part crossover that will be spanning Batman, Detecive, Nightwing, Robin and Batman & the Outsiders.
The premise? well to put it short: every character in the marvel universe could be a Skrull! Yeah it seems that simple, but marvel has been laying the groundwork for sometime apparently (i'd say only since Secret War that bendis did a year or so back). Skrulls have discovered a way to completely infiltrate the identity of someone and can only be detected when death occurs. Yeah that's right when the occurance of death insues, then we discover if you were a skrull or not, seems simple right?
This being the 2nd issue it means that the big fights will commence, and we get some really good hero vs hero battles here. Captain America is back (well possibly) and a host of others stright up duking it out! Iron Man goes back to basics when his armor is super hacked, and Hawkeye goes back to what he does best...bows and arrows.
All this action and we're treated to some really cool full-out Skrull versions of characters. Making for what i hope is an even craizer 3rd issue!! Check out super X-men skrull with wolvies claws, colossus' armor and cyclops' beams!
It's small details like this that are making this book such a great read. Also if you enjoy Nightwing pick up Green Lantern Corps also written by Tomasi for some interglactic police goodness!
Although visually I love the above poster (and must have it by the way!) i'd say the below poster more captures the whole Batman mythos, just look at that city that he has to watch over. Superman has always had his definitive watching from the clouds image, and now i believe we've got our batman equivalent image.
Now i'll bet these got you in the mood to read some batman stuff!!
Um so yeah...Ed McGuiness is awesome! His style perfectly suits hulks giant over the top physique. Also appearing in the book are Ironman, She Hulk, the new Abomination and a host of others all done in similar spectacular style. The action is fast and furious and while not as detailed as Hitch's Fantastic Four (see previous posts) it really gives a good feel to how powerful Hulk is.
Let's get to the story part....following the events of World War Hulk as i mentioned the GREEN hulk as dissappeared, and his good friend Abomination has turned up dead...via some kinda giant gun. yeah...since when does Hulk use guns!?!? Ironman and his Shield posse go to investige with the help of General Ross and She-Hulk...then crazyness ensues. I hesitate to call it a retro approach...i'd say it's more of a back to basics approach to hulk, giving a big showcase to huge action scenes...and less of that word stuff.
Also i don't know who red hulk is (my guess is possibly General Ross??) but i like him!
Look at the attention to detail!!! Immonen has a great style that works really well with the web slinger, and his techinical ability is...i'd say almost unmatched by most current artists. How many times have you seen a car or computer drawn and wondered...is that box supposed to impress me?? For example, in this issue it's the return of Omega Red who's after revenge on Jameson for giving him bad press...and during the fight spider-man slams him in the face with a computer monitor...the monitor is completely drawn in detail, it has the wall mount, the grills, the inputs and plugs on the back, wires...it even shows the screws popping out! When was the last time you even saw an artist take the time to do that?? Check out this wide shot of the aftermath:
Still not convinced??? how about this?!?!
Other good reads this week:
Titans, Fantastic Four, Punisher, JSA!!!
Also be sure to check out our wicked "Why go to the Con" sale!!
Technology is often one of the elements neglected by artists, usually degraded to a series of boxes or a blurred thing in the background, but hitch brings it all front and center showing he can draw the most advanced creations that Reed can build.
Okay okay, so he can draw...but what about flow and action???? Oh yeah!! Check out these great action panels. Sue Storm stopping bulletts matrix style and crazy ripple effects during a Johnny Storm sequence, you probably won't see anything like this in any other book on the market right now.
Alright alright so now onto the story. Starting with #554 it's a whole new 4-part story, so you don't have to read anything prior to just jump on...the only reference that i could see was that they refered to Sue walking out on Reed (this happened during Civil War). So what exactly is going on??? Well the earth is dying, faster than usual, as indicated in the book within 10 years!! So an old friend of Reed's comes to him to help them build a "NEW" earth, one that is exactly like the current earth. BUT!! what would "NEW" earth be like without them trying to perfect it??!?!?
Yeah that's right people, why not create some kinda utopia? what could go wrong there...and who is this "cap" character? Oh he's just somethign they created to be a night "watchman", you know...keep everybody in line. Anywayz, seems to work in theory right? 
Yeah that's right...that's what happens!! It seems that "cap" overheard Reed talking about what REAL soldiers and SHIELD, and he's deceided to seek them out and destroy them!!
So if your in the mood for something new and fun to read, or even just want to see some great art check out Fantastic Four!! And if you enjoy it be sure to pick up The Authority Trade Paperbacks for more of Hitch's art!
