X-Factor: Happenings in Vegas, Peter David

"Remember when we warned you about the shocking twist involving Madrox's baby? Remember when the return of Shatterstar wound up making every comics-related website? Well, that was just a warm-up for the shocking events in this volume. X-Factor gets a new client, a tall green-garbed woman with a deadly secret, but that's just a set-up for the jaw-dropping surprise to come."












X-Factor is a tonally strange comic to pin down, being, as it is, a detective comic with a cast of mutants and others than generally tends towards the soapier side of pulp fiction, and features some of the most character-led plot in the entire genre.

And that also, from time to time, features actual superheroes appearing and engaging in heroic battles, as though that were what this is a comic about.

But it isn't, it's not your general superhero battle book, although there are plenty of fight scenes. It's not Heroes for Hire, and it isn't the X-Men, it's a weird halfway house of both, and like the latter it is ALL ABOUT the character arcs.

This is a little disappointing then, because by and large this is a self-contained arc, featuring some set up for future stuff, some extra little conflicts on the side, and a main plot that features the X-Factor group teaming up with Thor to fight dead vikings in Las Vegas, a city which has almost no native heroes that I can think of but routinely gets trashed.

Oh, the Thor stuff is fine, but from a series that started off exploring sex crimes of the super people, or sent its main characters off into the future to fight in the Summers rebellion, a Noodle incident that had been referred to for decades beforehand, a vignette on how women are tricky things to understand and how Thor can hit things isn't quite as cool.

Also Try:
Peter David, X-Force: The Invisible Woman has Vanished, Madrox
J. Michael Straczynski, Thor

Avengers: Avengers World, Jonathan Hickman

"The greatest heroes in comics together on one unbeatable team. The Avengers ""go large,"" expanding their roster and their sphere of influence to a global and even interplanetary level. When Captain America puts out his call -who will answer? Big threats, big ideas, big idealism these are the Avengers NOW!"














The first volume of the all new Avengers run by Jonathan Hickman is something I've been waiting for since the first issues was released. I picked it up as a comic but decided it was more cost effective to wait for the trade instead, so as this was released in mid-week I decided to treat myself today.

It was well worth it. Whilst not a decompressed storyteller in the style of Bendis, Hickman's Avengers run is one which is best enjoyed when you can see the bones of the whole arc. Unlike his Manhattan Projects, a comic which exists to be read monthly, this is a more epic, focussed run. Whilst some of the talking-head tropes of Bendis's run still exist, especially in how Tony and Steve interact in choosing the team, this is much more action focussed. Unlike many books on the shelves now Avengers is a comic that can be read monthly - the first six issues include three one-and-done origin stories (for Smasher, Hyperion and Captain Universe) as well as a three issue introduction to the new team.

The biggest controversy here is the expanded roster of the Avengers to include mission specific teams, including Shang Chi, Cannonball and Smasher. Whilst Cannonball is an established character in the X-Men and Shang Chi has a long history, if no real pedigree or status in the Marvel Universe, it's Smasher who's my early favourite new Avenger.

The first human member of the Shiar's Imperial Guard, she's one of many 'Smasher' class heroes, which nicely brings in the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe. If Bendis was all about street level heroics, then Hickman seems to be about every level - five of the characters included in the team could be classed as individual heavy hitters, yet they mix alongside Hawkeye and Black Widow - essentially, the Avengers movie team.

The book itself is of a different style to the standard Marvel Premiere edition design that they've used for whole Bendis era. It's obviously Hickman designed, showcasing his flair for branding and mechanics - it's a lovely book and stands out from the rest of the shelf, although its bare spine and blue on white treatment lends it a little too much of an Image title feel.

Definitely pick this up, it looks to be going some really good places. I can't wait to get the next volume!

Also Try:
Brian Michael Bendis, New Avengers
Jonathan Hickman, The Manhattan Projects
Matt Fraction, Hawkeye
Grant Morrison, New X-Men