By Davey Nieves
X #21
Writer: Duane Swierczynski
Art: Eric Nguyen, Michelle Madsen
Letters: Richard Starkings
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
There’s X-Men, Xzibit, the band X (if you get the reference I’ll buy you a soft pretzel if you’re onsite at SDCC), and there’s Dark Horse Comics vigilante simply known as X. Since the characters reboot under writer Duane Swierczynski and artist Eric Nguyen the series continues to be a rollercoaster of highs and lows. X #21 marks a good jumping on point for new readers but needs a little polish to keep them.
Issue 21 kicks off the “Marked For Death” storyline and like any good Steven Segal plot our anti-hero finds himself in the middle of a fight he has to kill a lot of people to get out of. We pick up on the continuation of X’s battle with the underworld crime armies of Arcadia as he tries to take out a major weapons cache. However, the hunter finds himself the hunted by the end of the issue when he comes face to face with The Archon; a being of superhuman strength that’s already beaten X within an inch of his life. His saving grace this time is another super-being known as The Mark, whom Archon believed X to be at first due to their horrible choices in eye covering fashion.
The issue’s furious pace is kept up like a rocket car that doesn’t run out of fuel. It’s so fast; it almost nullifies X’s internal monologue as he’s killing all those bad guys. No man could have that many thoughts over instincts when slicing that many vocal chords like someone had thrown cucumbers in the air. Action sequences are crisp, but there’s very little backing it up to make me care about the character or his predicament. He spends the issue setting himself up as the ultimate badass and by the end seems to change his tune. Ultra-violent brooding vigilante characters (Punisher, Judge Dredd) typically work best when they don’t bend, but instead let all the emotion work through the supporting cast. Which could be fixed as the story carries along.
Nguyen’s art feels like an anime game cut scene. (Google search: Gungrave) The brutality of the action is on point with explosions and sword slashing which has that freeze-frame feel at just the right moment. It’s in the sequentials that move the story along where the art suffers a bit. For example, characters feel like they lack expression during dialogue sequences causing hiccups when reading panel-to-panel. One thing I’d really like to see going forward is more risks with panel layouts. Experimenting a bit more in that area could polish Nguyen’s style.
Upon first glance, it’s easy to write off a character like X as a Punisher clone but this character has quirks that make him very unique. His one mark warning, second mark death rule plays well at times showing a code that lacks in other vigilante characters. “Marked For Death” is probably best taken as a whole as opposed to monthly chapters. If you’ve been reading the series then keeping issue twenty-one in your pull is definitely a reward. If you’re looking for a new series to read; I can’t really recommend X #21 because it just doesn’t do enough to get me interested in #22. Although as the arc continues it could warrant a trade pickup since there’s definitely a spark to it that has the potential to turn ablaze if some daring chances are taken.
If you like looking at pictures of Disneyland and funnel cakes follow Davey on twitter for his reposted instagram pictures.
Hi all out there in "The Land of Blog." Where did the summer go? I can't believe it's September already. Well at least football season has started and I am a huge college football fan. I went to collage at The University of South Carolina and thus I am A big Gamecock fan. We are classic underachievers and kings of disappointment, kinda like the Charlie Brown of the college football world, but we never give up. Who knows maybe this year we will do really well.
Go Gamecocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well that's not really what I'm here to talk about so let's get things moving along with some recent good reads:
The Last Apprentice - Clash of The Demons by Joseph Delaney - This is the sixth instalment in this awesome series. Tom, the seventh son of a seventh son, is recruited by his Mam who has returned home from Greece to take on a great evil she has been fighting there sense the death of her husband and Tom's Dad. She also recruits Tom's Master The Old Spook Gregory, a former Spook Trainer Bill Arkwright, Witches from different clans that share interest with Mam's fight, The crafty Witch Assassin Grimalkin, others, and last but not least Tom's close friend Alice (also a Witch). They are all headed to Greece to take on a powerful Old God, The Ordeen who appears in her Citadel, The Ord, every few years to terrorize humanity. In the past an order of monks located in Greece have been able to contain her malevolence to a small part of Greece. However with the Fiend now on the lose, the monks are in danger of being destroyed and the destruction caused by the Ordeen and her monstrous followers unleashed upon all parts of the world. There journey is long and they face many evils before reaching the monks in Greece such as Fire and Tapper Elementals (the first using the powers of fire and the second harnessing the power of rock and earth, Maenalds (women from Greece who have gone mad and are deadly cannibals), Sirens, Lamia Witches, and more. Then at the end of their journey there is the great evil citadel of The Ordeen and the demons and monstrosities that live within. Not everyone will return from this adventure and those that do can count themselves amongst the very lucky. Can't wait for the next book!!!! Recommended for those 9 and up!!!!!
Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity by Dave Roman - This Graphic Novel is one of the most original I have read in awhile. The stories in this GN revolve around a mered of different characters attending a school which just happens to be in Outer Space. There are two many characters to talk about so I will introduce you to just a few (you can find out about the rest by checking this excellent GN out). The first character we are introduced to is Hakata Soy who gave up his place in a superhero team wh
Xander Nash: Let My People Go is a children's christian book.
Xander is upset with his mom. She won't let him go to his friend Jackson's sleepover party because it is a school night. She explains to Xander that if it were the weekend, she would agree but school is most important. Xander tries pleading and bargaining but to no avail.
Upset with his mother, Xander takes Mitts out for a walk to explore the empty lot up the street. When they arrive they notice that the clouds are funny looking and one that resembles a huge swing floats down in front of the two. After climbing on, the two are whisked away to another time in another land.
When they land, they meet Moses, who is talking to a burning bush. After introductions, Xander and Mitts join Moses and follow his tribe.
When they arrive in Egypt, they are met by the Pharaoh who tells them they are not allowed to pass through his lands. He does not wish to free the Israelites as they are his slaves and this makes Moses sad. Ramses and he were once like brothers and now there is a rift between the two, sadly the people he is protecting begin to suffer at the hands of Ramses.
Praying to God for an answer, Moses is shown the way. After many plagues hit Egypt, Ramses tells Moses to take his people and go. Taking over 6000 adult men and their women and children, Moses, Aaron, Xander and Mitts begin the trek out of Egypt. When the quest it completed, Moses helps Xander to get home.
I quite enjoy the Xander Nash series of books. I love their illustrations, they are kind of animated and real life imposed together and sometimes they are cartoony. I think the pictures are well done and add a nice flair to the series.
I thought this book has an excellent message, as do all the Xander Nash books. I think it is a great biblical series for young readers. The prose is easy to read, with many sight words and the flow is excellent.
I would recommend these for Sunday schools, libraries and home schooled children to read and enjoy. The Xander Nash series are an excellent source of biblical knowledge for young children.
SYNOPSIS:Follow young archaeology enthusiast Alexander Nash, as he travels and dreams his way through the various eras of our Biblical history. Will the stories of the Bible affect him, or will he affect them?
Xander Nash: Sibling Rivalry is book two in the Xander Nash biblical series.
Xander is minding his own business when his brother, Kevin, comes into his room and announces that their parents had bought him a new multi-coloured sweater. Feeling jealous Xander whines at his brother and mother and gets angry and feels unwanted. He decides to take his dog, Mitts, for a walk. However, before leaving, Xander puts on his brown fedora and trusty explorer's belt.
Deciding to walk through the park, Mitts is suddenly whisked away on a rainbow, with Xander following close behind. The two ride along the rainbow for a very long time before being taken back in history to the ancient East during the time of Joseph and his multi-coloured coat.
Xander and Mitts befriend Joseph and both of them share stories of their brothers, how Joseph's brothers are always jealous of Joseph and the love their father has for him. After being placed in a pit to die with Joseph, Xander becomes worried until they are removed and sold into slavery to a trader from Egypt.
Xander notices that time moves differently, everyone around him seems to be a blurry blend every time years pass quickly with everyone getting older except Xander and Mitts. Along the way we learn of the biblical story of Joseph, his brothers and the destiny he follows in the name of God.
This is a great medium to expose children to the biblical stories that we share. Children will delight in reading these pages as they are told in a friendly and easy going manner. I love the Xander Nash series as the stories are honest and approachable. In
Sibling Rivalry the reader is told the story of Joseph through the eyes of Xander. We learn of his plights, his and Joseph's brothers jealousy, the interpretation of the Pharaoh's dreams, and how, in the name of God, Joseph and Xander are able to make everything work out in the end.
I love the illustrations in these books, they are black and white caricatures and sometimes they are are overlaid on almost life like quality photos, giving the pictures a charming interpretation. The font is quite funky and gives the reader some extra charm, instead of reading normal font prose, we are given another aspect of fun while reading a story that has been told for ages.
I would recommend the Xander Nash series to anyone who loves a good Christian reader for their children, it would be great for homeschooling and even keeping a copy of the series in church Sunday school rooms would be beneficial!
Learn all about Xander Nash and his dog, Mitts~!!
SYNOPSIS:Follow young archeology enthusiast Alexander Nash,as he travels and dreams his way through the various eras of our Biblical history. Will the stories of the Bible affect him, or will he affect them?
Oh My G-d.
Maybe I was having a blind date the other night that went well. Just saying, supposing. Maybe.
Maybe we came back to my cute little flat after a drink or two.
Maybe I put on a little Edith Piaf, and maybe I opened another bottle of wine.
Maybe he was a tall latin boy with an MBA, who spoke fluent Italian.
Maybe he tried to kiss me. And maybe I decided this was a good time to pull
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I’ve been getting the series since 1 and have found it overall enjoyable. I’m a little irritated that this story is split into 2 books though, parts 1 & 2 in X and 3-6 in Captain Midnight. If you want a crossover, put out a miniseries and let the readers decide if they want to pick it up. Don’t stick it in the regular series and force them to pick up another series to get the ending. I almost dropped Constantine when DC pulled that shite during Blight over 4 different series.
For a vicious title, it’s very good.
@Josh – Isn’t that the point of a crossover, though? To get readers of just one of the books to pick up other books? This is a long-used thing in comics, or TV, or what have you.
Isn’t that the point of a crossover, though? To get readers of just one of the books to pick up other books? This is a long-used thing in comics, or TV, or what have you.
Everyone knows the point of a crossover, but I think the point he’s making is that people appreciated them more when the books were $1 instead of $3-4.