Before I say anything about the latest issue, I want to make a quick announcement. After giving it plenty of thought, I’ve decided this issue will act as the last issue of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, at least for now. That’s not to say that this is the definitive end of X-men Supreme. For now, assume that this fanfiction series will be on an extended hiatus. I cannot say whether it’ll be temporary or permanent, but I feel like the time has come to step away from this fanfiction series. That said, I can say more definitively that this is the end of X-men Supreme Volume 7: United and ..read more

The following is my review of X-men Blue #35, which was posted on PopMatters.com. Certain time-displaced, alternate universe, or cloned characters never wear out their welcome. Time paradoxes aside, someone like Cable is here to stay. Josh Brolin's role in Deadpool 2 and Dafne Keen's role in Logan effectively cements that. Those are rare exceptions, though. For the most part, characters derived from others or a byproduct time travel have an expiration date. It's arguable when that date was for the original five X-men who first came to the future in All-New X-men, but most agree that date ha ..read more

The biggest, most significant upheaval in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series is complete. The High Evolution arc concluded and so too did Magneto’s story. What began in X-men Supreme Issue 3: Competition effectively ended in X-men Supreme Issue 173: High Evolution Part 5. Magneto made his choice and his sacrifice. His vision for the mutant race is no longer his to pursue. That burden now falls upon the shoulders of his daughter, the Scarlet Witch, and a reunited Brotherhood of Mutants. While his vision will continue, Magneto’s story has ended. Make no mistake. This is not a case where the ..read more

The following is my review of Astonishing X-men #15, which was posted on PopMatters.com. In principle, being a superhero is simple. You find criminals, you fight them, and you defeat them. If you can cooperate with the authorities along the way, then that's a nice bonus. When heroes have to operate as criminals, though, things aren't as simple. That doesn't just apply to vigilantes like Batman and the Punisher, who overtly operate outside the law. Sometimes, a superhero has to function in an environment where they're branded a criminal for the wrong reasons. That is Alex Summers' sit ..read more

The following is my review of Scarlet #1, which was posted on PopMatters.com. Rebellion is one of those unavoidable pitfalls of an imperfect world. Wherever there's injustice, fictional or otherwise, there will be popular uprisings. It's the inspiration for half the music produced in the late 1960s. It's also a rite of passage for any teenager who had to endure an early curfew. By definition, it's deviant because it opposes the status quo. At the same time, it has an uncanny allure because it dares to pursue something better. Scarlet Rue personifies rebellion in a rawest sense. When ..read more

It’s here. The final battle between the X-men and Magneto has arrived. What began in the first few issues of X-men Supreme Volume 1: Mutant Revolution is set to end in a battle that will leave no corner of this fanfiction series untouched. Since their first encounter in X-men Supreme issue 3: Competition, Magneto has been fighting for a vision that has put him at odds with the X-men at every turn. Whereas Charles Xavier seeks peace and understating, Magneto seeks domination and subjugation. As he said in the X-men First Class movie, peace was never an option. He has that same mindset in X-me ..read more

The following is my review of Old Man Logan #46, which was posted on PopMatters.com. It's never easy watching a beloved friend or family member succumb to the ravages of age. It's an inescapable fact of life, but if there's anyone who has a chance to escape, it's Wolverine. He's not supposed to age, decline, or lose his sex appeal. This is a man who survived having the adamantium ripped from his bones by Magneto, endured multiple battles with Apocalypse, and kept his dignity after the Punisher ran him over with a steamroller. However, it's because he's not supposed to get old that Old Man ..read more

The final showdown of X-men Supreme Volume 7: United and Divided is upon us. Magneto’s ultimate endgame is here. Professor Charles Xavier, General Grimshaw, President Kelly, Captain Freeman, Cyclops, the Scarlet Witch, the X-men, and X-Force have been on a collision course. The High Evolution arc has just accelerated everything. They’re all past the point of no return. There’s no turning back. Magneto and the High Evolutionary are set to make their boldest move to date. When all is said and done, the X-men Supreme fanfiction series will never be the same. I’ve tried to make major volume of ..read more

The following is my review of Extermination #1, which was posted on PopMatters.com. There comes a point in every time travel story where the damage to the timeline become untenable. Sometimes, it takes too long to get to that point and when functional time machines are involved, that's saying something. It's debatable whether the original five X-men that, as ripped from the earliest issues of Uncanny X-men, have gotten to that point, but the circumstances surrounding Extermination #1 make a pretty convincing case that their time has come. The details are unavoidable. The reasons why ..read more

There are some characters whose sexiness is overtly powerful. Nobody questions the sex appeal of characters like Mary Jane Watson, Emma Frost, or Daken. They're all pretty open when it comes to showing off their sexy side. It's part of their persona and their allure. It's a big reason why I've had so much fun writing my "Red Queen" series. Then, there are characters whose sex appeal is understated, but overwhelming. They don't carry themselves as overly sexual. They may even come off as reserved or even most of the time. However, when you dig just a little deeper into their personality, you ..read more