Reviewer: James Hatton
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Published By: Marvel Comics
Okay, so I’ve been looking forward to this ten year anniversary since they announced it. I’m a fan of the AOA and, more importantly, Chris Bachalo – so to know that coming up was his art on one of the greatest crossovers evah was enough for me to call shotgun on doing all AOA projects. So I am.
Before the entire story begins though, the fine people at Marvel start us with the Age of Apocalypse One-Shot which is, I guess, supposed to bring us up to speed on the world that we shall be spending a month of our time in. Four stories – four teams. Let’s rank em’ out, shall we?
Talking About My Generation
Written by: Scott Lobdell
Art by: Alvin Lee
Inked by: Scott Hepburn
Colored by: Gary Yeung
Lettered by: Dave Sharpe
Colossus is a brooding Russian. I mean, take an emo kid, feed him a sandwich, rip of that stupid sweater, and turn him into a two-ton man covered in steel. Not to mention he used to be one of Apocalypse’s Horsemen, and you have Piotr Rasputin – the broody X-Man who doesn’t want to play.
So while the X-Men are fighting the good fight against the minions of Apocalypse, Piotr is just sitting there. Thinking. Pondering. Being just a general stick in a mud. That’s right… I went there.
Well, when the X-Men go back to see Magneto (AOA version X-Men’s leader) – the master of magnetism is NONE to thrilled. He gets it though, and thusly makes Colossus the leader of GENERATION NEXT. Now what calls attention to this story isn’t so much the story – it’s basic. It’s the art. Alvin Lee rocks, and each one of his X-Men – from the larger than life Piotr. The Magneto whose stance shows his power and leadership. The Kitty Pryde who is not only ripped, but stacked as well… Alvin Lee shouldn’t miss Dreamwave too much – he’s got a job where ever he wants.
RATING: 8.0
Man Bites Dog
Written by: Tony Bedard
Art by: Paco Medina
Inked by: Juan Vlasco
Colored by: Chris Sotomayor
Lettered by: Dave Sharpe
In tune with origin stories – this is how the AOA version good guy of Sabretooth met his mini counterpart of Wild Child. Caught by Holocaust (remember him, huge bodyarmored Ghost Rider looking guy) – Creed is tossed into a cell. Why not killed? Sabretooth FEARS NO DEATH! Damn right. So he is put into a cell with a little fuzzy bastard who fights with him until they both pass out from exaustion.
When ‘tooth wakes up, he discovers that the cute lil heel nipper is not only docile – but obedient. Thusly starts the relationship between Sabretooth and Wild Child.
Artwise, Medina is good stuff, but I’m still hung up on Alvin Lee. Sorry.
RATING: 4.0
Shinjuku Incident
Written by: Larry Hama
Art by: Talent Caldwell
Inked by: Matt Banning
Colored by: Chris Sotomayor
Lettered by: Dave Sharpe
So then there is a Wolverine story.
Yep. When Wolvie met Mariko in the AOA – which could easily have been placed in any other time period – and I have this weird sinking feeling that if I read through the original WEAPON X story from AOA – this one wouldn’t make a lot of sense.
I’m not going to, though. Mainly because it’s Larry Hama. I’ll just assume I’m right. Short version – Wolvie saves Mariko. Silver Samarai shows up. They exchange pleasantries. Silver Samarai leaves. The end. The art is nice – a little stiff at times, but generally would be acceptable. Nothing to scream at.
RATING: 2.0
Beginning At The End
Written by: Akira Yoshida
Art by: Mark Brooks
Inked by: Jaime Mendoza
Colored by: Danimation
Lettered by: Dave Sharpe
This is the story that you bought the book for. Why? It’s the first story in the tale of the 10th anniversary. This is the story that leads to my next review – which leads to Exiles – which leads to… hopefully, a damn good story. I pray. Not to knock Akira Yoshida at the start, but I hAAAted X4 #1.
Well, here is your summary. At the end of Age of Apocalypse – bombs were about to ‘splode all over the world – ending the world as they know it. Shocker though, they look up and nothing is there, and they feel fine. Nobody that sat and watched the bombs fall can figure out what happened. They should all, in fact, be dead.
Well, what’s an upstanding X-Man to do, Mags hurries his ass up and builds the Statue of Liberty to give humanity something to believe in again. Sentimental git. That was a few months ago – and all we are left with is the knowledge that Mags knows what happened to the bombs that day … and so does the believed dead Mister Sinister. OOOooooooo.
This art is probably my second favorite in this book, aside from the ‘having my comic babies’ Alvin Lee. It just feels like it fits. Like I’m not watching a comic, but the AOA Cartoon. I love it when a comic makes me feel like I’m watching a cartoon.. don’t know why.
RATING: 8.5
Overall!
I would like to believe that each one of these stories is going to be a tie-in to something that happens throughout the new AOA story. I won’t be able to reflect on that until the very end, but for now I’m going to believe that Piotr’s bitterness, Wild Child, and Mariko are all a part of this month’s crossover.
WE SHALL SEE!
Final Rating: (Avg. score of 7-ish)
