World Comic Book Review

28th March 2024

Extraordinary X-Men Annual #1 (Review)

Extraordinary X-Men Annual #1
Marvel Comics September 21, 2016
Writers: Brandon Montclare and Ollie Masters

American comic book publisher Marvel Comics has spent the past couple of years targeting new readers, primarily leveraging upon the success of related company Marvel Studio’s motion pictures. The print strategy is to refresh existing superhero franchises (usually by having a new character take over an established hero’s role) or by introducing substantive continuity changes to a property.

Some of Marvel Comics’ superhero characters are described as acquiring their powers through unlikely mutation, the product of madcap evolution, and these characters tend to sit apart from the other characters. Marvel Comics’ once flagship line of mutant-centric X-Men comic books were given the latter treatment of continuity shift. “Extraordinary X-Men” Annual #1 is an example of why the approach is counter-productive.

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REVIEW: Doctor Strange Prelude #1 (of 2)

Doctor Strange Prelude #1 (o f2) (review)
(Marvel Comics, September 2016)
Writer: Will Corona Pilgrim

“Dr Strange” is a forthcoming movie starring English actor Benedict Cumberbatch. Mr Cumberbatch is known for his colourful role in the esoteric British television adaption of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books concerning fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. In the motion picture, Mr Cumberbatch plays Dr Stephen Strange, a physician who, following an accident which has ruined his hands, seeks out a Tibetan mystic. The mystic teaches sorcery to Dr Strange. The promotional teasers for the motion picture are striking and exciting.

The title to this particular comic notes that the story within does not sit within the shared continuity between comic book titles published by Disney-subsidiary Marvel Comics. Instead a red seal on the front cover proclaims, “Marvel Cinematic Universe Official Tie-In”. The title this seems intended to attract new readers who might be intrigued by the promotional activity around the forthcoming movie.

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REVIEW: All-New Wolverine Annual #1 (2016)

All-New Wolverine Annual #1 (2016) (review)
Marvel Comics, August 31, 2016
Writer: Tom Taylor

“All-New Wolverine” Annual #1 features a crossover between two Marvel superheroes, Spider-Woman and Wolverine, who are at the forefront of the American publisher’s All-New, All Different (ANAD) creative initiative. The ANAD initiative refreshes many properties by introducing replacements and variations of existing characters. In this case, the role of Marvel Comics’ iconic antihero Wolverine is assumed by a female clone of the character named Laura Kinney, and one of Marvel Comics’ most famous characters, Spider-Man, is replaced by a former love interest named Gwen Stacey, who happens to be from an alternate reality and has superpowers.

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Civil War II – The Accused #1 (review)

Civil War II – The Accused #1
Marvel Comics
August 10, 2016
Writer: Marc Guggenheim

“The Accused” is a standalone tie-in to American publisher Marvel Comic’s annual crossover event, this year entitled “Civil War II”. This cross-promotional publication event is, in essence, a marketing ploy to encourage readers of Marvel Comics to buy additional titles, as a consequence of being introduced to those characters through the tie-in.

In this event, Marvel Comics’ major characters are being divided over what to do with a new character that has the ability to predict the future. One side chooses to exploit the character’s gift by being proactive (apprehending criminals before crime is committed). The other side considers a reactive approach to be more ethical. Marvel Comics has actively explored the consequences of time travel in recent years, in both “The Avengers” and the “Uncanny X-men” titles, and in many ways this concept is an extension of considering the Butterfly Effect upon its continuity.

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