The Other History of the DC Universe is an interesting little project. Part social history, part love letter, part fanfiction – and I don’t mean that derisively. One of the strongest (and depending on who you ask, most problematic) aspects of fan fiction as a medium is the tendency to obsess over the moments where canonical works might cut away. Sometimes this tendency can produce some eye-rolling moments, but the same all encompassing love that inspires someone to write about what Sulu was doing while Kirk and Spock were down on Talos IV, is dripping from every issue of this series. If you pick up nothing else from reading this series it’s that John Ridley absolutely loves DC Comics. [Read more…] about The Other History of the DC Universe Review!
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Room for Outsiders | X-Factor by Peter David Omnibus Vol. 1
Peter David’s work on X-Force is one of those rare books where it’s easier to explain the plot than it is why the book exists in the first place. Where Claremont and Davis’ Excalibur is something of a superhero and fantasy farce, David’s X-Force is a satire of the X-Books themselves. This omnibus is focused right at the 90s era mutant craze while being published right alongside the books it was subtly commenting on.
It debuted the same year as Deadpool and Weapon-X and within months of Lobo, Deathstroke the Terminator, and Shade the Changing Man getting solo titles. Yet X-Factor adds nothing to the Dark Era or its complexities.
These collected issues also existed near the very height of the speculator boom, and yet it doesn’t fall in line much with the Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza, and Ann Nocenti money train. In fact, David would quit the series two times in three decades with one of them being over event books.

By rights, this should be the least impactful X-Book since The X-Terminators (no one remembers that book. And if you do, for god’s sake stop.) And yet, David’s work paved the way for everything from Peter Milligan and Mike Allred’s fantastically subversive X-Force/X-Statix series to Jonathan Hickman’s HoX/PoX. And furthermore, I’d say that the future of the X-Men will learn more from this series than Fatal Attractions.
Let’s dig through X-Factor by Peter David Omnibus vol. 1 to find out more. [Read more…] about Room for Outsiders | X-Factor by Peter David Omnibus Vol. 1
(Re)Read Hickman’s X-Men: The Sword Is Drawn – 2019’s Excalibur #1
Somewhat like Marauders, Tini Howard and Marcus To’s Excalibur reinvents a familiar X-franchise name, though in this case the new Excalibur retains strong ties to the beloved classic team of the 1980s. Their base will still be the Lighthouse, and their leader remains Captain Britain—and a Braddock—but their roster is otherwise entirely different. Missing, too, is Claremont and Alan Davis’ signature gonzo satire on the title, but Omniversal Majestrix Opal Luna Saturnyne will see her grandest showing yet, while the Braddocks, Pete Wisdom, and Merlyn and Roma play increasingly prominent supporting roles as the series continues. In fact, as a hub or nexus of the multiverse, Otherworld will be far more prominent in the new series—and so will its province of Avalon.
Related:
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Creannotators #57: “Action Tank” with Creator Mike Barry!
This week on Creannotators, I talk Action Tank with writer Mike Barry. We talk about self-publishing Action Tank in Australia, the print launch with Scout’s Scoot imprint, and writing for younger comics readers, and much more!
On Comic Book Herald’s ‘Creannotators’ I’ll be interviewing some of my favorite creators in comics about specific runs, graphic novels or series, looking for their insights on the inspirations behind the work and ideas or hidden material readers may have missed. Creannotators is an audio annotative guide to enjoying the intricacies and thinking in the art. Thanks for listening, and enjoy the comics!
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[Read more…] about Creannotators #57: “Action Tank” with Creator Mike Barry!1992 Pt. 4: Hulk Future Imperfect & More (w/ guest Tiffany Babb)!
Marvel comics of 1992. A Peter David comicspalooza including Hulk: Future Imperfect with George Perez!
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[Read more…] about 1992 Pt. 4: Hulk Future Imperfect & More (w/ guest Tiffany Babb)!