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Its been a couple of weeks and the books are piling up so lets get to work with my reviews!
Let’s begin with…Siege #1 of 4.
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Olivier Coipel
So here it is, drum roll please! Siege is upon us and well, it starts out with the scenes that have been previewed in just about every Marvel comic for the last few weeks with Volstagg helping out the local authorities with a couple of goons. After he does that he’s basically jumped by the U-Foes and the fight leads into a crowded stadium. The U-Foes try to blast Volstagg but he deflects the blast but kills everyone in the stadium in the process. This event is what Norman Osborn uses as an excuse to invade Asgard. Basically all we get to see is Norman’s forces start to invade and Thor who’s beside a bed-ridden Tony Stark, rush to Asgard only to be met by Sentry and the rest of the Dark Avengers. It’s going to be interesting to see what issue #2 brings to the table. Remember, this is only a 4 issue limited series so it needs to move pretty fast from here on out. Good writing from Bendis, and although a lot of it was set-up for later it was still good. Coipels art was amazing as usual. 3.5/5
Next up is…Siege: Embedded #1 of 4.
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Brian Reed
Artist: Chris Samnee (cover by Adi Granov)
This book is continuing in the same style as Civil War: Frontline and Secret Invasion: Frontline and so on. It is showing the reader the P.O.V. of Ben Urich and his friend Will Stern. The two friends meet up while Ben is being detained by the police and make a break for it. They both then stumble upon Norman and his team sifting through the rubble at the stadium incident involving Volstagg. The two friends decide to get something to eat and while doing so they see Volstagg himself walking down the street. To make a long story short, they all have dinner together and then head to Asgard. I liked this book more than any of the previous Frontline books. Brian Reed is doing a good job with this series so far. 3.5/5
Thirdly I present…Cable #22.
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Duane Swierczynski
Artist: Gabriel Guzman (cover by Marko Djurdjevic)
OK, so the only reason I bought this book was because I thought it might contain something pertinent regarding the “Second Coming” storyline that’s forthcoming. Boy what a mistake that was. The highlight for me in this issue was Bishop tossing his cookies after a time-jump. Honestly, this issue was no different than any issue I’ve read about since I stopped buying this around #5 I think. Cable and Hope time-jumping to avoid getting killed by Bishop. Wow, what a new concept for this book. The artwork was OK and the writing was nothing that hasn’t already been said or done. 2/5
Now, on to something better with…Nation X: X-Factor #1 (one-shot)
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Valentine De Landro (cover by Christian Macnevin)
All I can say is bravo Peter David! This book was great and I honestly don’t think anything could have been done better. The story revolves around Scott inviting Madrox and his crew to come to Utopia and check it out. Well, needless to say these two guys don’t see eye to eye and before you know it they’re engaged in quite a heated argument over mutants and their current state of affairs. The book actually starts out showing a scene of an old woman who is being harassed by Nazi soldiers during WWII. The old lady ends up stabbing a soldier in the throat with her pen and escapes. Madrox’s team strolls around meeting up with old friends and some new ones as well. Shatterstar and Rictor walk and talk but Rictor gets mad because Shatterstar keeps getting hit on by everyone around him. Well, to sum up this story, Longshot and Dazzler hook up, Layla and Jamie argue with Cyclops over what mutants need to do in order to survive, and that little old lady from the beginning in WWII makes an appearance not soon to be forgotten! Great issue all around. 4/5
Last but not least is…New Mutants #9.
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Zeb Wells
Artist: Paul Davidson (cover by Adam Kubert)
This issue was definitely a must read for any Illyana Rasputin fan. Ever since her return in X-Infernus, she’s been more than a little vague about where she’s been and what she knows. In this issue we see her and Emma Frost have a therapy session about it. Magik goes on to tell Emma about how she came to exist and then tells her to peek inside her mind to see the future she has seen. The former White Queen opens up her mind and into the thoughts of Illyana. She sees a vision of herself trying to kill Legion while the other X-Men lay at her feet apparently dead. After seeing this she moves away and Illyana asks her if she wants to see more. To which Emma replies, “No, thank you.” Magik then tells Emma that there are travellers from Limbo coming to hasten the end of the world and we see a group of soldiers that have been to hell and back plotting to come after the team. Fantastic issue all around and I can’t wait for the next one!  4/5
I also received the Origins of Siege free issue during the no ship week and I have to say it was pretty cool, especially for a freebie. If you can get your hands on one, do it! That’s all for now but hopefully I can get last week’s books reviewed on Friday.
Billy Dunleavy
billy@comicattack.net