This is how I feel about Blackest Night from DC. I go back and reread it every year. For some reason I’m always convinced it won’t be as good this time but I always walk away loving it. It’s more than just the big nature of the storytelling; it’s the emotional payoffs and deep nuances to these characters arcs that get me. The friendships the romances the tragedies all of it. I know the story has had its critics and it’s also a story that really only sells itself if you are aware of the context of what was happening around it, but I never get tired of it. That book marked an end of an era for DC.
I barely remember this annual, but I recall absolutely loving Claremont's script and Adams's pencils. If I remember correctly, this team also collaborated on a two-part "Asgardian Wars" story that ran in the New Mutants and X-Men annuals that I thoroughly enjoyed. Talk about a reminder of how good comics used to be.
Yep. The two part X-Men Alpha Flight with Claremont and Paul Smith had the main villain as Loki. It's sequel was the Claremont Adams two-parter. My favorite series of books in all of X-Men.
I was looking at comic sales this week and I’m genuinely stunned marvel is publishing like 5 X-men books. It’s like the editors are delusional thinking it’s still the 90s. The X-men have been ruined beyond repair yet marvel still think the team is a Batman level brand. They seriously think X-men still needs 5 titles?! They’d be lucky to have just 1 comic that makes it into the top 10. Genuinely embarrassing how badly marvel have killed the X-men brand.
I love it when you talk about comics you enjoy, it's fun to dunk on stuff but it's even better to hear someone talk about something they legitimately enjoy. You're on target when it comes to emotion in modern comics, I saw Wes' video on Kamala Khan being brought back alive and the way it treated the conversation she was having with her childhood best friend learning that she had died, because Emma Frost memory wiped everyone, was just awful. They treated it like a joke, I actually feel bad for Kamala fans.
This reminds me about how I love Kingdom Come so much. I know it's such a "Timmy's first comic" comic, but it's soo god dang good. And I must admit back in the day I was a "Marvel fanboy" who scoffs at "DC Shit" because reasons, but Kingdom Come really made me go check out more and more DC stuff that I missed.
Yes, I miss this level of story-telling in today's comics as well. The depth of characters, the relationships, the dialog - all top quality stuff. I doubt we'll ever see this like again, and that's the saddest part of all for me. We'll always have these legacy stories to read, though. I find myself reading my back-issues more and more as time goes by.
I second another comment here. Blackest Night is something I go back to every year. On another note.... it is extremely depressing to see very small number of views at reviews of old comics.
I appreciate your love of comics and these back issue reviews. Makes me think of certain X-men books that left their impression on me, like the one where Juggernaut smashed a bar counter on Colossus while Wolverine and Nightcrawler were "teaching him a lesson" about toying with Kitty's feelings. Nothing today elicits specific memories like those old ones. Rereading some back issues is the closest thing you can get to the great literature of our time.
Hahahaha I remember that hat! It stuck out to me too! I grew up in the southwest around country folk so I was used to seeing cowboy hats, baseball caps, varieties of hats. When I bought the issue, I started looking at the art. I remember studying the hat thinking why is she wearing this hat? Does it mean something? 😂😂😂😂
Dude, I had that exact comic as a kid and read it a million times until the comic fell apart. It was some random issue I got from my biological father and sparked my interest in comics.
Two weeks ago I picked up a lot with the first 50 issues of X-Men Classics and it's unreal how different things are now. Every idea from Claremont, Cockrum, and Bryne has been retconned.
I was collecting these titles at the time and I loved that story, warts and all. Loved that Art Adam’s art. I hate what they’ve done with Rachel in her latest now lesbian incarnation.
I think you're right, the reason I gradually stopped buying comics and read more manga (or European comics) is because everything is so... emotionally sterile. Either the protagonists already know the absolute GOOD and come to lecture you, or they're going to be lectured by another hero (possibly non-hetero woman of color). There is no room for passion or for vices. Never again will we see a protagonist having to hide his identity to protect his loved ones, nor how it negatively affects his relationship with them, because.... And possibly they are just as important as the hero, because THEY LUV THE SCIENCE and help him with gadgets and are super supportive of his heroic schedule! When was the last time when reading an American comic book you dropped a tear? When was the last time you opened your mouth excited, because the hero finally got the kiss, or was able to overcome enormous adversity (and no, racism and homophobia doesn't count)? They are so obsessed with the message and moral neatness that they forget that they have to tell a human story. Soulless works created by soulless people.
I love the original scans. Forgot about this issue, I’m going to have to check the local shops and see if I can find it. The coloring is a perfect example of doing more with less, no flashy gradients or color holds just well placed flat colors.
@3:45. It sure was nice of them to label that thing on the end of the man's leg. I wouldn't have known what it was otherwise. I wonder why they didn't do that with other items as well. Car! Table! Hat! 😜
It's great to go back and find good comics. The art gets you at first then the dialogue. Xmen books were best books for so long and now it's just ppl going to Hellfire Galas.
Excellent Annual. Fine character work. Agree with the many points made below on how todays writers don't tend to write them like this anymore (but check out JM DeMatteis' Magneto for an equally telling barometer, coming from an oldschool writer of Claremont's calibre). Looking at this Annual now, one thing that stands out is that this *is* one of Claremont's final X-Men stories. It's close to the end, where he walks away from the books,, and looking at the book here I see such a sharp shift underway in the X-Men's direction and tone come the start of the nineties - and it is embodied in Cable. I think this was the first time Claremont had used this character, I don't know what his thoughts on him were, but like all other characters he uses him well and he plays his part in the story. But the visual directness of this character, and his entire mission statement, is Militant. ULTRA militant. This is a character who is at complete odds with the Claremont X-Men formula, Claremont's X-Men up to this point was always a character driven book about 'people'. Not soldiers or celebrities, but people. With all their struggles, emotions, failings, and friendships, and rivalries. And here is this one-note gun obsessed 'Dirty Harry' pastiche crossed with The Punisher.... a walking caricature. A joke. It might not be happenstance that Claremont creates the similar Ahab as a mirror to Cable - he IS a villain, a one-dimensional throwaway character who is not meant to have any more depth or dimension than perhaps Mr Sinister had. With Sinister there was originally a good reason for the absurdity of the character, with Ahab though what you get is 'Cable'. It's great little read this annual, but it is a turning point as well, the point where subtelty and nuance begins to be erased for writing the X-Men, and a new 'all guns blazing' tone is coming in that is at direct odds with what had made the characters and the main book so enormously popular and successful up to this point.
It isn't anecdotal. Visited a comic shop out of the way I hadn't been in for six years and asked owner how it was going. He made a face and said, "lot of my customers are cancelling their subscriptions. I'm not pulling new books much anymore." "Really? Why?" I asked. The guy only knows me on sight and says without a single hesitation, "Because of the agendas in the books. I'm doing pretty well selling back issues online." And there we have it. A medium that once had promise reduced to yard sale items.
I remember this annual, but even then I thought they should have left the Days of Future Past storyline alone. This didn't add anything at all. Admittedly the art was good.
Writers who are better at playing with other people's toys than creating their own are definitely a thing. The best example I can think of is Batman: The Animated Series, every time it featured a villain from the comics they absolutely knocked it out of the park. But when it came to creating their own villains, the designs and stories were really lame. The only one that caught on was Harley Quinn.
modern comics and cartoons have emotions. they have snark, and sneer, and butt hurt, and whine about systemic something or other. and don't forget their favorite emotion. ham fisted preaching while doing something evil.
I remember buying this as a kid and being confused and overwhelmed but I loved the art, of course and by the end you have enough information to follow and enjoy the story...Adams was one of my "buy anything they draw" guys at this point. This level of density and storytelling acumen is completely dead...characterization is superficial and you're never given any background on the characters and their world, it's just assumed you know everything. This would be a 6 issue trade with meandering dinner table conversations and pointless lecturing if it was done now. And would be significantly uglier on every level. (I generally dislike the X-Factor uniforms from this era...except on Jean, for obvious reasons)
Unfortunately, at this point, Arthur Adams (when did he become “Art?”) was already drawing more and more with a cartoonish style, instead of the excellent and very detailed style of a few years prior. He’s a fine example of a penciller who actually got worse as time passed.
This is how I feel about Blackest Night from DC. I go back and reread it every year. For some reason I’m always convinced it won’t be as good this time but I always walk away loving it. It’s more than just the big nature of the storytelling; it’s the emotional payoffs and deep nuances to these characters arcs that get me. The friendships the romances the tragedies all of it. I know the story has had its critics and it’s also a story that really only sells itself if you are aware of the context of what was happening around it, but I never get tired of it. That book marked an end of an era for DC.
I barely remember this annual, but I recall absolutely loving Claremont's script and Adams's pencils. If I remember correctly, this team also collaborated on a two-part "Asgardian Wars" story that ran in the New Mutants and X-Men annuals that I thoroughly enjoyed. Talk about a reminder of how good comics used to be.
Yep. The two part X-Men Alpha Flight with Claremont and Paul Smith had the main villain as Loki. It's sequel was the Claremont Adams two-parter. My favorite series of books in all of X-Men.
I was looking at comic sales this week and I’m genuinely stunned marvel is publishing like 5 X-men books. It’s like the editors are delusional thinking it’s still the 90s. The X-men have been ruined beyond repair yet marvel still think the team is a Batman level brand. They seriously think X-men still needs 5 titles?! They’d be lucky to have just 1 comic that makes it into the top 10. Genuinely embarrassing how badly marvel have killed the X-men brand.
I’ve never seen a brand destroyed like marvel did with the x men. An A list property now reduced to C-list status and obscurity
Art Adam is my favorite comic artist. I remember this comic fondly. Thank you for the review.
I love it when you talk about comics you enjoy, it's fun to dunk on stuff but it's even better to hear someone talk about something they legitimately enjoy.
You're on target when it comes to emotion in modern comics, I saw Wes' video on Kamala Khan being brought back alive and the way it treated the conversation she was having with her childhood best friend learning that she had died, because Emma Frost memory wiped everyone, was just awful. They treated it like a joke, I actually feel bad for Kamala fans.
This reminds me about how I love Kingdom Come so much. I know it's such a "Timmy's first comic" comic, but it's soo god dang good. And I must admit back in the day I was a "Marvel fanboy" who scoffs at "DC Shit" because reasons, but Kingdom Come really made me go check out more and more DC stuff that I missed.
Yes, I miss this level of story-telling in today's comics as well. The depth of characters, the relationships, the dialog - all top quality stuff. I doubt we'll ever see this like again, and that's the saddest part of all for me. We'll always have these legacy stories to read, though. I find myself reading my back-issues more and more as time goes by.
I second another comment here. Blackest Night is something I go back to every year. On another note.... it is extremely depressing to see very small number of views at reviews of old comics.
I appreciate your love of comics and these back issue reviews. Makes me think of certain X-men books that left their impression on me, like the one where Juggernaut smashed a bar counter on Colossus while Wolverine and Nightcrawler were "teaching him a lesson" about toying with Kitty's feelings. Nothing today elicits specific memories like those old ones. Rereading some back issues is the closest thing you can get to the great literature of our time.
Hahahaha I remember that hat! It stuck out to me too! I grew up in the southwest around country folk so I was used to seeing cowboy hats, baseball caps, varieties of hats. When I bought the issue, I started looking at the art. I remember studying the hat thinking why is she wearing this hat? Does it mean something? 😂😂😂😂
5:57 Great Art, Storytelling and Emotions.
Art Adams drew the best Warlock.
Dude, I had that exact comic as a kid and read it a million times until the comic fell apart. It was some random issue I got from my biological father and sparked my interest in comics.
Two weeks ago I picked up a lot with the first 50 issues of X-Men Classics and it's unreal how different things are now. Every idea from Claremont, Cockrum, and Bryne has been retconned.
I was collecting these titles at the time and I loved that story, warts and all. Loved that Art Adam’s art. I hate what they’ve done with Rachel in her latest now lesbian incarnation.
I think you're right, the reason I gradually stopped buying comics and read more manga (or European comics) is because everything is so... emotionally sterile. Either the protagonists already know the absolute GOOD and come to lecture you, or they're going to be lectured by another hero (possibly non-hetero woman of color). There is no room for passion or for vices.
Never again will we see a protagonist having to hide his identity to protect his loved ones, nor how it negatively affects his relationship with them, because.... And possibly they are just as important as the hero, because THEY LUV THE SCIENCE and help him with gadgets and are super supportive of his heroic schedule!
When was the last time when reading an American comic book you dropped a tear? When was the last time you opened your mouth excited, because the hero finally got the kiss, or was able to overcome enormous adversity (and no, racism and homophobia doesn't count)?
They are so obsessed with the message and moral neatness that they forget that they have to tell a human story. Soulless works created by soulless people.
I love the original scans. Forgot about this issue, I’m going to have to check the local shops and see if I can find it. The coloring is a perfect example of doing more with less, no flashy gradients or color holds just well placed flat colors.
Ahab was awesome and the art was was addictive. Loved looking at all the details
I met him and got a few autographs this weekend at the Baltimore comic-con. Seems like a nice man
@3:45. It sure was nice of them to label that thing on the end of the man's leg. I wouldn't have known what it was otherwise.
I wonder why they didn't do that with other items as well. Car! Table! Hat! 😜
I miss this Art Adams! His newer style is not a favorite of mine anymore(and I'm a huge Adams fan).
Great review. 😊
Always liked Art Adams work
Yeah. Great comic, Zack.
It's great to go back and find good comics. The art gets you at first then the dialogue. Xmen books were best books for so long and now it's just ppl going to Hellfire Galas.
It seems like it's a bunch of pod people standing around or sitting at a table and pontificating about how awesome they are.
Excellent Annual. Fine character work. Agree with the many points made below on how todays writers don't tend to write them like this anymore (but check out JM DeMatteis' Magneto for an equally telling barometer, coming from an oldschool writer of Claremont's calibre).
Looking at this Annual now, one thing that stands out is that this *is* one of Claremont's final X-Men stories. It's close to the end, where he walks away from the books,, and looking at the book here I see such a sharp shift underway in the X-Men's direction and tone come the start of the nineties - and it is embodied in Cable.
I think this was the first time Claremont had used this character, I don't know what his thoughts on him were, but like all other characters he uses him well and he plays his part in the story. But the visual directness of this character, and his entire mission statement, is Militant. ULTRA militant. This is a character who is at complete odds with the Claremont X-Men formula, Claremont's X-Men up to this point was always a character driven book about 'people'. Not soldiers or celebrities, but people. With all their struggles, emotions, failings, and friendships, and rivalries.
And here is this one-note gun obsessed 'Dirty Harry' pastiche crossed with The Punisher.... a walking caricature. A joke. It might not be happenstance that Claremont creates the similar Ahab as a mirror to Cable - he IS a villain, a one-dimensional throwaway character who is not meant to have any more depth or dimension than perhaps Mr Sinister had. With Sinister there was originally a good reason for the absurdity of the character, with Ahab though what you get is 'Cable'.
It's great little read this annual, but it is a turning point as well, the point where subtelty and nuance begins to be erased for writing the X-Men, and a new 'all guns blazing' tone is coming in that is at direct odds with what had made the characters and the main book so enormously popular and successful up to this point.
Dude, I’ve been listening to you cough for 5 years now. I do not care. I’m just excited for the comic review.
It isn't anecdotal. Visited a comic shop out of the way I hadn't been in for six years and asked owner how it was going. He made a face and said, "lot of my customers are cancelling their subscriptions. I'm not pulling new books much anymore."
"Really? Why?" I asked. The guy only knows me on sight and says without a single hesitation, "Because of the agendas in the books. I'm doing pretty well selling back issues online."
And there we have it. A medium that once had promise reduced to yard sale items.
I remember this annual, but even then I thought they should have left the Days of Future Past storyline alone.
This didn't add anything at all. Admittedly the art was good.
The coughs don't bother me. Its understandable
I just got back into comics. Mostly Venom related. I wanted to read X-Men but new X-Men is super hard to get into. Just is. . .Just can't jump in.
Writers who are better at playing with other people's toys than creating their own are definitely a thing. The best example I can think of is Batman: The Animated Series, every time it featured a villain from the comics they absolutely knocked it out of the park. But when it came to creating their own villains, the designs and stories were really lame. The only one that caught on was Harley Quinn.
modern comics and cartoons have emotions. they have snark, and sneer, and butt hurt, and whine about systemic something or other. and don't forget their favorite emotion. ham fisted preaching while doing something evil.
I remember buying this as a kid and being confused and overwhelmed but I loved the art, of course and by the end you have enough information to follow and enjoy the story...Adams was one of my "buy anything they draw" guys at this point. This level of density and storytelling acumen is completely dead...characterization is superficial and you're never given any background on the characters and their world, it's just assumed you know everything. This would be a 6 issue trade with meandering dinner table conversations and pointless lecturing if it was done now. And would be significantly uglier on every level. (I generally dislike the X-Factor uniforms from this era...except on Jean, for obvious reasons)
Try Coca Cola for your cough.
Unfortunately, at this point, Arthur Adams (when did he become “Art?”) was already drawing more and more with a cartoonish style, instead of the excellent and very detailed style of a few years prior. He’s a fine example of a penciller who actually got worse as time passed.