Magneto rules, y’all. I would say he is the best villain in comics, but slotting him into a strictly villainous role does him a disservice. The mutant master of magnetism has been everything from a cackling murderous despot to a kind, understanding mentor to the next generation of his people. Given his nearly 60-year history, it is tough to narrow down the best stories starring Erik Lensherr (or Max Eisnerhardt, or Magnus depending on which stories are currently in continuity). Still, it’s a task I am more than happy to try. [Read more…] about The Best Magneto Stories Of All Time!
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Tarot Reading of X-Men: X of Swords Chapter 13 – Marauders #14!
Editor’s Note: Tarot Readings are a major thematic and stylistic component of the 2020 X-Men comics event, X of Swords. Since it’s not a field I know, I’m excited to bring in a specialist to provide unique readings based in the Tarot connections of the story. We’ll be running these Tarot examinations following each of the event’s 22 parts. Enjoy!
Marauders #14 marks the next step on the Fool’s Journey, and as such, it relates to the major arcana card number #12, The Hanged Man. [Read more…] about Tarot Reading of X-Men: X of Swords Chapter 13 – Marauders #14!
Tarot Reading of X-Men: X of Swords Chapter 12 – X-Men #14!
Editor’s Note: Tarot Readings are a major thematic and stylistic component of the 2020 X-Men comics event, X of Swords. Since it’s not a field I know, I’m excited to bring in a specialist to provide unique readings based in the Tarot connections of the story. We’ll be running these Tarot examinations following each of the event’s 22 parts. Enjoy!
X-Men #14’s major arcana card is none other than number #11, Justice, which marks an inflection point, since it divides the cards in two parts, the first and second half of the Fool’s Journey. [Read more…] about Tarot Reading of X-Men: X of Swords Chapter 12 – X-Men #14!
The Essential Marvel’s S.W.O.R.D. Comics Reading Order!
Marvel’s SWORD, the Sentient World Observation and Response Department, is the intelligence equivalent of SHIELD, dealing with the extraterrestrial threats of the Marvel Cosmic scene. Whereas SHIELD has been with the Marvel Universe since the Jack and Stan Silver Age, SWORD debuted in 2004’s Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday. Since that time, SWORD, and most specifically the unit’s delightfully no-nonsense commander, Abigail Brand, have been an integrated, yet sporadic part of the Marvel Universe fabric, although most commonly tied to the pages of X-Men.
Despite the memorable debut, clear purpose, and compelling role in Marvel Cosmic, SWORD only has one solo five issue miniseries prior to the launch of Al Ewing and Valerio Schiti’s hotly anticipated entrance into the X-Men’s Dawn of X. There are good stories involving SWORD and Agent Brand – as a matter of fact I have a list of 10 essentials – but I’d also argue there’s a definite sense of untapped potential.
[Read more…] about The Essential Marvel’s S.W.O.R.D. Comics Reading Order!
Theses on Three Jokers by Geoff Johns & Jason Fabok
Ed. Note: Spoilers for Three Jokers (and more or less the oeuvre of Geoff Johns) follow!
0. Let’s just get this out of the way: The Killing Joke is not that good of a comic. Even by the standards of bad Alan Moore comics, this sticks out in terms of its quality. Where most other trademark bad Alan Moore comics are bad for more interesting reasons (Neonomicon and later volumes of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen are bad for interesting yet horrifying reasons), The Killing Joke
In short, it’s bad in the same way comics like the Vigilante arc “Father’s Day,” the Violator miniseries, and Three Jokers are bad. [Read more…] about Theses on Three Jokers by Geoff Johns & Jason Fabok