Mutant X #5

Written by: Howard Mackie

Art by: Tom Raney and Andrew Pepoy

The world of Mutant X get over run by (cloned) Goblins and everyone's favorite neighborhood Spider-man shows up to help the Six. There is a big fight scene, the Six split up and Madelyne goes off with the Fallen after the Green Goblin, who is in control of the clones. Spider-man (who has six arms, weird right?) follows, and is captured along with Gobby. The Brute shows up just in time to hear Madelyne tell the Fallen to kill them.

He does and Havok and friends show up and blame the Brute. He's dumb and can't defend himself - so he runs off. Havok trails him and the cops take the brute down and arrest him for the murder of the Goblin and Spider-man.

Not really sure why I'm still reading this title. The story is kind of lack luster and I remember it being a abetter read. Maybe my tastes have changed. Before this was like a nice pice of guilty candy. But now I think I have a cavity from it. I'll stick with it until the faux Inferno story line finishes up, then I'll reevaluate whether this warrants further reading.

Mutant X #3

Written by: Howard Mackie

Art by: Tom Raney and Andrew Pepoy

The parade of weird versions of characters I know continues in this flaming piece of junk. And who else gets paraded out but every ones over rated mutant bad boy, Wolverine. I went through a phase where I was into this character - somewhere between 9th and 10th grade. As I aged, I found I liked my superheroes a little less beserker and a bit more cerebral.

This issue opens with Havok wondering the snowy wilderness mumbling about how some has "taken them all"... and this issue get worse from here. Turns out we are at war with Canada (which is the only novel idea in this book) and the Six get shot down in Canadian airspace. But, honestly Howard Mackie - war with Canada? This new world is so crazy.

Blurry images run across the page, the Brute goes crazy and the Pack shows up - Wildchild, Sabertooth and Wolverine. Havok blasts them and this revels a cave entrance. Havok blows the door out and reveals...you guessed it - the Weapon X facility. Alpha Flight shows up, tells off the Six (something like "Stay out of Canada, jerks) and the Six go on their way.

What a waste of a couple trees. The art is in line with Pepoy's standard fare - nothing new here. The story is cookie cutter at best. If memory serves me correctly, this series gets better down the road. Stick with it, there are a couple memorable issues in this series. Until tomorrow - happy reading.

Mutant X #2

Written by: Howard Mackie

Art by: Tom Raney and Andrew Pepoy

Havok continues to adjust to this world he now calls home in the second issue of Mutant X. In case you're unaware of the plot, Havok's soul has been transplanted to another reality where things are a bit off kilter. Mutants and humans are friends, Magneto leads the X-men, Scott Summers didn't survive the plane crash.

So, in this issue, the Six show up to help the Fantastic Four battle an inter-dimensional threat in the form of the insect-like being called Moot. Apparent;y, in this reality, the Fantastic Four get their powers from battle armor as opposed to cosmic radiation and Havok and Sue had a brief affair. So, Reed and Alex aren't really on speaking terms. So, the Six and the Four beat Moot and Reed takes him back to the Baxter Building.

Alex realizes that if anyone can help him get back to his reality, it's Reed Richards. So, he heads over to the Baxter Building and is greeted by a very friendly Reed. Turns out Moot is controlling Reed to get to Havok to initiate a cross dimensional invasion. Alex frees Sue, Ben, and Jonny and they kick the tar out of Moot. The real Reed runs some tests on Alex and find some sort of brain damage.

Wow - what a mediocre issue. Boring, ding. The art is your standard fair for the late 90's and the story is bland. Again, this series is beginning to feel like a parade of "this is someone you know, but they are different here" characters. I have read the whole series before, and it does have its merits, but this issue is not one of them.

Well, I kind of feel like that was a waste of time. Oh, well. I still liked it. Come on, junk food is always just that - junk. Until tomorrow - happy reading.

Mutant X #1

Written by: Howard Mackie

Art by: Tom Raney and Andrew Pepoy

Let me start this review by saying a few things about my comic book buying habits. Here are some things I look for in a title from either Marvel or DC:

1) Does the title have a beginning, middle, and ending?

2)Did one person write from issue one to the final issue?

3) Do I need to read any other series to understand what is going on in this title?

4) Is the title set in a alternate reality (non Earth 1 or Earth 616, depending)?

5) Can I make a check list?

So according to this set of rigorous tests Mutant X is a perfect title for me to collect. It's set in an alternate reality - if fact it is the only title to take place in this alternate reality. It consists of 32 issues and 3 annuals, all written by Howard Mackie. When I was collecting this series, I had a checklist (I like checklist more than any sane person should - I keep a spreadsheet of my comics with a pie graph showing publisher distribution). It has a beginning, middle and end. One thing to note about possible flaws in the test - there is no gauge for quality, either in art or story.

So, on to Mutant X #1. It opes with Havok (Alex Summers) falling through a starry background, talking about remembering dying. We then cut to a fight scene between a group called the Six (consisting of Havok, Madelyn Pryor, the Brute, Iceman, the Fallen, and Bloodstorm) and some Sentinels. They fight, the Six gets the upper hand, and one of the Sentinels tries to blow away Madelyn; Havok jumps in the way and takes the blast - this sends him into a river where the two Havoks merge.

Havok awakes, see these twisted versions of his friends and freaks out. The Fallen clock him and we cut to the Six's hideout. A long, drawn out section takes place explaining all the characters. Havok and Madelyn are married and have a son, Scotty. The Brute is Hank McCoy - but a dull witted, reptilian version, as his experiments took another direction on this world. The Fallen is Warren Worthington III, but instead of metal wings, his are now bat-like and he breaths fire. Iceman can't turn off his ice. Bloodstorm is Ororo Munroe who never got over Dracula's bite. Long story short, Havok decides to run with this to see who is behind the tinkering of reality.

We learn that in this world the Six are heroes and mutants and humans live in peace. Nick Fury and SHEILD are fighters for humanity - and have taken Havok and Madelyn's kid hostage at the Statue of Liberty. The team takes off and fight Fury and friends. Madelyn mentions the Goblin Queen (SPOILER) and the team is able to save Scotty. The book ends with Scotty confronting Havok - saying "You're not my real father."

Wow. What an issue; packed with information and very little plot, which is a bit generic, but the characters are the real focal point. Like a fun house mirror. The art is standard fare for marvel in the late 90's - nothing ground breaking, lots of odd poses.

The whole reason I picked up this series is Havok. I hate Cyclops with a passion and a solo book about his underachieving brother is perfect for me. And Scott Summer is dead in this reality. Awesome.

This is a book that appeals to my sweet tooth and I am kind o ashamed to say I love this title. More reviews to come. Until tomorrow - happy reading.