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Review: House of X #1

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The new era of the X-Men is off to a great start. House of X #1 certainly met the hype for me. I came away thinking that you essentially need to know Xavier, Magneto, and that there are mutants going in, and it gives you pretty much everything else.

I particularly enjoyed how the creative team worked in the infographic elements that are a staple of Jonathan Hickman’s books, and mutant language angle they introduced.

“One cannot create a distinct culture without it.”

N E X T
I T S N O T
A D R E A M
I F I T S R
E A L

TH E N
TH E C U R I
O U S C A S
E O F M O I
R A X

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Standard Deviations vol. 15:
Marvel’s Uncanny Avengers #1 variants

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The Marvel Now! movement begins today with the release of Uncanny Avengers #1 in comic shops across the country. The publisher is pulling out all the stops with its line wide “refresh” including an appearance by Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live last night. The inaugural series of the Marvel Universe’s new direction spills directly out of this Summer’s Avengers versus X-Men, and this marquee title features the debut of a new mutant-infused team of Avengers team as the X-Men’s Havok, Rogue and Wolverine join forces with Earth’s mightiest mainstays the Scarlet Witch, Thor and Captain America.

This series is getting a big push and the inclusion of Havok in the Marvel spotlight like never before has had me on board since the first announcement. However, what merits an edition of Standard Deviations dedicated to it are the first issue’s nineteen cover images. Read on for a look at the many faces of Uncanny Avengers #1.

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My Latest Pull List – May 30th, 2012

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Weekly comic books are a big part of my life and below is a list of what I’ll be picking up this Wednesday along with cover artwork and previews courtesy of Comixology’s Pull List app.

A short list of only four new books this week. I’m still on the fence about Batman Annual #1. I’m only reading the Batman issues of the Night of the Owls event and can’t tell if this is one to skip or not.

  • NEW MUTANTS #43 – The Exiled crossover with the Asgardians of Journey Into Mystery continues. Unfortunately, I haven’t read enough of it to say more yet.
  • WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN #11 – Another AvX tie-in and one of many that have the Red Hulk on the cover. I’m not sure that’s a welcome sight. Seeing that Nick Bradshaw is drawing the issue in place of Chris Bachalo was also a bit disappointing, but that has more to do with my appreciation of Bachalo than anything negative about Bradshaw.
  • X-MEN #29 – It’s hard to place this series in X-Men continuity with AvX in full swing and this issue featuring Skrulls which may have been more suitable in 2008 than 2012. I believe Victor Gischler’s run on the book is wrapping up and the cover suggests he’s bringing many of his previous stories together here.
  • X-MEN LEGACY #267 – AvX continues to impact this title as the students at the Jean Grey school are under house arrest and Rogue’s team goes head-to-head with the Avengers’ Iron Man, She Hulk, and Moon Knight. Ms. Marvel really needs to be in this fight even though she’s busy trying intercept the Phoenix Force in the pages of Secret Avengers.

Check back every week to see what’s on My Latest Pull List and please share your thoughts on these titles and everything you’re reading this week in the comments.

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My Latest Pull List – May 2nd, 2012

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Weekly comic books are a big part of my life and this is a fairly big week. Below is a list of what I’ll be picking up this Wednesday along with cover artwork and previews courtesy of  Comixology’s pull list app.

Another week with eight new books for me and most of them are X-Men titles in some way shape or form. I’m considering picking up Earth 2 #1 and Dial H #1 that are shipping as part of Wave Two of DC Comics’ New 52 (on 5/2 no less). I’ll also be checking out Image Comics’ Epic Kill #1 and Mind the Gap #1 and reviews will be posted Wednesday morning. 

  • AGE OF APOCALYPSE #3 – There was a time when an Age of Apocalypse ongoing title would have automatically gone to the top of my list of favorite books. Even though this doesn’t bear much resemblance to the original AoA, the twist of having some of the greatest mutant haters of all time fighting for a world that fears and hates them is wild.
  • AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #685 – Doctor Octopus has gotten some major villain upgrades in recent years and he’s set to make his move as The Ends of the Earth continues. Unfortunately, I’m way behind on my reading for this series.
  • AVENGERS ACADEMY #29 – I don’t normally read this title, but it’s an AvX tie-in this month. The cover reveals that some of the younger X-Men are being held captive at Camp Hammond and I’m glad this story is only happening in one title now that Generation Hope has been cancelled.
  • AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #3 – Marvel’s event of the year continues. I’m still not completely sold on what’s happening here as Captain America seems to be making a lot of unexpected decisions and John Romita Jr.’s artwork is hit or miss for me.
  • EXILED #1 – Who says AvX is Marvel’s event of the year? Amidst all the hero punching comes a crossover between the New Mutants and the Asgardians of Journey Into Mystery. Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Kieron Gillen are the minds behind this series and that’s a combination I’d read just about anything from.
  • WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN: ALPHA AND OMEGA #5 – After reading the first issue, I normally save reading mini-series until they wrap up. Brian Wood’s series featuring Wolverine, Armor and Kid Omega is one I’m really looking forward to.
  • X-FACTOR #235 – Peter David’s superhuman detective agency is something I look forward to every month. Adding artist Leonard Kirk, Havok and Polaris into the mix makes it even better.
  • X-MEN #28 – This book was meant to be a showcase for the X-Men interacting with the rest of the Marvel Universe, but lately it seems like it couldn’t be more out of touch.

Check back every week to see what’s on My Latest Pull List and please share your thoughts on these titles and everything you’re reading this week in the comments.

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Standard Deviations vol. 9:
Avengers versus X-Men variants

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Marvel’s biggest event of the year is here along with perhaps the most extensive set of variant covers the publisher has ever produced. Avengers versus X-Men promises to be huge in every way, and each of the series’ twelve issues will be wrapped in at least five different covers. Shipping from April to October, these books will feature artwork from some of the industry’s top names, and if nothing else will result in the most massive entry in our Standard Deviations series to date. As “AvX” rolls on, we’ll be updating this post with all of the associated images and commentary you’d find in each installment. Read on to see where it all begins, and be sure to check back regularly as each issue ships!

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