Broken Infinite TV: NEW Comic Book Craze (# 12)

For the first time this year, comic book cartoons are back. See a great line up of shows from different universes in this returning block.

Uncanny X-Men # 2 Review

UNCANNY X-MEN # 2
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Chris Bachalo, Tim Townsend, Jamie Mendoza, Al Vey & Victor Olazara
Marvel Comics


FLIPPING THROUGH:

            Love. Love is a wonderful thing. Then love gets broken by betrayal. And there is more than one betrayal dealt with in the second issue of Uncanny X-Men. Emma really looses her shit … as tweeted by writer Brian Michael Bendis himself. And she does. But not in the way you’d think. No. Emma’s … frustrated. She’s frustrated cause her telepathy is in flux. She’s frustrated cause her relationship to Scott is torn to shreds because of her cheating on him. (HA. Karma Scott. Karma! Aka He cheated on Madelyn with Jean and then on Jean with Emma).  We get a very nice look at her relationship with Scott now. They aren’t together. It is obvious something is still there but they are not together.

            Meanwhile, we get to see the new students of Cyclops’ New Xavier School with a bitching schematic of the new facility while we have character interaction. We get a little more development of the new students as a bunch of X-Men head on to visit Eva’s, new codename Tempus, home to tell her mother she’s okay. And then we get a cliffhanger of an ending as the Avengers show up.


ART:

            Bachalo once again delivers an issue full of innovations and slight usage of propaganda. While the propaganda visuals are far less this issue, there are a couple in certain panels that work well. Yet, some of the innovations in panel work this issue really helped deliver a strong impression.
            We got great panel work that is fragmented which is a physical representation of Emma’s current state of mind. There is an order to it but its shuffled because of her powers being in flux. It is also an interesting way to visually describe her relationship with Scott.  Using 1 part propaganda, one part vacation package and one part schematic, Bachalo and the gang really do a splendid job of showing the schematic of the base in a way that let’s readers know what’s going on, add it to the main story and sell it as part of Scott’s revolution all at once.  It’s gripping to see and I am impressed how the students are taking to it.
            The new costumes are growing on me save for Magneto’s. I’m sorry but white on him just does not feel right. Red. Yes. Purple. Yes. Black. Yes. Even blue and yellow would be better than white on him. But that is more a personal thing.
            All the inkers really do a great job to flesh out Bachalo’s pencils but Bachalo’s coloring this issue feels more vibrant than it did in issue one. Really wonderful job by the art team.

WRITING:

            I like Bendis. I like this issue. Emma and Scott’s early conversation about where she’s act and their relationship was really good. It keyed into what has happened between them. It shows Scott keeping himself strong while show slight vulnerability when it comes to Emma. Emma’s vulnerability was definitely brought to bear for the readers and to Scott. Yet, that’s all who see it. It is good seeing Emma remembering that she’s a damn good teacher. And it is good to seeing the evolution of the characters.

            Magik, honestly, felt nice and fresh here. She knows she’s no good but at the same time, she wants to fight for Scott’s revolution. I can agree with it. And I certainly understand it. Illyana seems to have also grown in a good way. Which makes her reasons being with Scott all the more interesting. And her has a teacher, even though she’s the same age as at least one student makes the dynamic even better. Magneto … honestly, I am loving him right now. He was with Scott till Avengers vs. X-Men and then things when nuts. Magneto, in his own way, must feel some blame for Charles’ death yet is putting it on Cyclops. And this issue continues his Judas ways. Yet, Bendis writes it in such a way that you can’t help but agree with Erik a little.

            The new characters give fresh eyes as we are seeing a brand new generation of Mutants coming in. With that said, characterization is not a problem this issue. The panel work worked extremely well with Bendis’ story. Save for my one gripe … the ending seemed a bit too fast. Like the pacing of the issue was great till the last 4 pages.  The cliffhanger was great. The conversation between Scott and Emma was superb. The students getting used to the new Xavier School was wonderful. Yet, because of the issue having quite a few pages in the beginning devoted to Emma and Scott, the end of the issue didn’t feel balanced. Things felt rushed at the end. Yet, still … Bendis writes a great X-Men book with a distinctly different voice than his All New X-Men Title.

OVER ALL IMPREPSSION:

            While The ending seemed to be go from 30 to 90 within a few pages, the over all issue was really spectacular. We’re getting great character development. The characters feel real. The art was better this issue. And there is a building of investment alongside all the innovations done this issue. Uncanny X-Men may very well redefine the way you look at the mutant struggle both verbally and visually. Solid job by Bendis, Bachalo and crew.

RATING:

            I give Uncanny X-Men # 2 a 8.5 out of 10. Really great job.

Uncanny X-Men # 1 Review

UNCANNY X-MEN # 1
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Chris Bachalo, Tim Townsend, Al Vey & Jamie Mendoza
Marvel Comics


FLIPPING THROUGH:

            Normally, I would give you a brief history but the book does that for you. We get an interesting device of the issue being narrated by the person that is the Judas to Cyclops’ revolution. This was definitely a different Cyclops. Yet, it works and fits with everything that has occurred since Avengers vs X-Men. Cyclops is now an outlaw and considered a revolutionary with the mutant population booming again.
            His team scoops in to gather a brand new mutant only  to encounter Sentinels. Magneto, depowered a little bit because of the Phoenix (which still makes me scratch my head since the Phoenix attacked other mutants and their powers didn’t go gaga like his) and a now over powered Cyclops takes them down. The rest of the team gathers a young man  who just dealt with emerging powers. Not much on Magik but Eva who we saw in All New X-Men is now going by Tempus.
            Our narrator seems to be talking to Maria Hill & Nick Fury Jr. At the end, we get a reveal of our Judas. And I will just keep it there.


ART:

            Bachalo’s style has always been very different. I do not know many people with a similar style (the closest being Mark Buckingham but his style evolved differently than Bachalo’s). There are gritter inks to it but there are some definitely uses of propaganda art throughout the comic that helps give it the right feel, thanks to the inking team of Vey, Townsend & Mendoza. Cyclops is indeed leading a revolution now. And I hope this ride is a very, very long one … LIKE AT LEAST A DECADE. Anyway, Bachalo not only pencils the issue but also colors it himself. And Bachalo’s art looks amazing.
            Each panel is distinct and rich but there are pieces where things really work in terms of art that deals with Cyclops’ revolution. It is like the book continues to not only side with Cyclops visually, but shows you dramatic pieces that jump at you as if it were a program. Bachalo does not disappoint with the Sentinels either. Yet, I am not too keen on Magneto’s redesign. There were a couple of panels that seemed a bit  . .. fast. Like the opening panel with Hill, Coulson & Fury walking down a corridor. I have seen Bachalo’s work for years but I don’t know if it was the pencils or inks but it feels like that panel was rushed to get into the “good stuff.”  Each panel, in my mind, is important but that one just looked rushed or lazy. Yet, the coloring makes the panels vivid and working towards a propaganda style that goes along with Cyclops revolution. Otherwise, a solid job by Bachalo.


WRITING:

            This is probably one of the most inventively written books from Bendis. As I touched on with the art, there is a sense that is book is continuing giving you propaganda. From Cyclops’ image on the first page, to multiple panels which show Mutants getting attacked. Bendis crafts a great opening issue. He gives you the background. He sets up problems with SHIELD. He sets up this new mission of Cyclops’ yet also gives a very interesting look at it. Already, one of Cyclops’ most trusted X-Men are betraying him. Yet, we see loads of propaganda that prove Cyclops’ point visually while we are being told the opposite about Cyclops verbally. It makes an interesting was to go through the issue. It enhances what is going on even more and makes an interesting statement in the causes that Cyclops is now championing.
            Each characters voice was interesting. Yet, I find that for a book called Uncanny X-Men, we seem to have a split focus on SHIELD as well. Still, Bendis writes a bit darker here and it works. The use of propaganda over topped by the Judas’ narrative was inventive. The characters’ voices rang true. A great solid first issue by Bendis.


OVERALL IMPRESSION:

            Bendis continues his mastery over all things X-Men with an inventive start for Uncanny X-Men’s third volume. The flavor of added propaganda mixed with narration from one of the people that is supposed to be one of its champions was a great storytelling device. Bachalo’s art is just as inventive with interesting colors and panel work, yet some of it was a little lazy. Otherwise, I am excited to see where this road takes Cyclops.

 
RATING:

            I give this book an 8.0 out of 10. A few lazy panels aside, I loved the opening of this book and look forward to more.

X-Men: Portrait of Strong Leadership

 It is amazing that the X-Men are about to turn 50 years old and Marvel is working on making them beat out Avengers for the top spot again. Charles Xavier is now dead (for good from the looks of everything ... his brain was ripped from his own body and is currently being used by the Red Skull) for good. Yet, Charles has truly fostered some wonderful people to carry on his dream. The following are the "official" leaders of the X-Men over the course of  the last 50 years. I am not counting any other X-team and I am only going with the 616 Continuity cause this list would be Ridiculously large if I added the leaders of all the other X-teams.

 Here are the official torch bearers of the dream over the last 50 years.


CYCLOPS -

   Scott Summers, for decades, was the first and favorite torchbearer of the dream. He lived and breathed Charles Xavier's ideals. He worked hard to fight for Charles' dream, going about it different ways over the course of the last 50 years. He commands respect from every mutant he comes across. This can be clearly seen when he first brought up Utopia after dealing with the then top cop Norman Osborn ... beating Osborn by creating a mutant nation of his own and most mutants following him. Scott was the favorite son.

    Yet, after being absorbed by Apocalypse ... Scott came back a different man. When he came back, he seemed colder ... crueller. More of a dick. And the decimation, death of Jean Grey (for good it seems), slaughter of the majority of the Grey bloodline and his psychic affair with Emma Frost, Scott REALLY changed. He was willing to have blood on his hands. He was willing to protect mutant kind by sending out kill squads. He even decided that having Idie save people by killing Hellfire Club was okay.

  Scott went from being the ultimate leader of Xavier's dream to becoming the new face of mutantkind while turning his back on what Xavier taught him. Yet, Scott moved many X-Men over the course of the last 5 decades. He even made Magneto & Namor respect him ... at the same time. Scott Summers is, as Darryll B Carter would say, that cannon that would show you how to fight for survival and for a dream. It just changed from Charles' dream to his own.


STORM -

  If Scott Summers was the favorite son of Xavier, Storm has more than made her impression as the favorite daughter. Storm, with or without powers, is a formidable commander in her own right. Regal in her own way since she was first worshiped in Africa, Storm learned to get down and dirty too as a thief in the streets of Cairo (and part of the reason why she & Gambit have been close friends up till this day).

  Storm even beat Cyclops ... when she had NO powers. Being one of the first African American women in comics to hold a leadership position to such a popular team, Ororo Monroe paved the way for both creators and heroines alike. Most of her early tenure as leader of the X-Men really focused on a family like atmosphere amongst her, Kitty, Colossus (remember when she used to call him Little Brother) & Kurt. Since then, she lead the X-Men alongside Cyclops, then she was leader on her own again. Then she shared leadership of the X-Men with Emma Frost and Cyclops as heads while her running her own show.

  Storm became one of Charles' shining examples of his dream when she married Black Panther and was Queen of Wakanda. During her time as Queen, she was a member of both the Fantastic Four and the Avengers. Yet, those ended quickly as (according to some that no one could write Storm & Black Panther's marriage correctly since the late, great Dwayne McDuffie) their marriage was annulled (which is still bullshit, in my opinion). Now, after standing behind Cyclops to make sure he doesn't cross the line, and kinda failing at that, Storm returns to the Jean Grey School and go from wife to back to the Wind Rider we know and love ... with Mohawk included. Welcome back Storm.





EMMA FROST -


Her relationship with Charles was adversarial at first but Emma warmed up to Xavier's dream. She ran Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters during her time with Generation X but then , after falling in love with Cyclops, ended up co-leading the X-Men alongside him. During the time the X-Men moved to San Francisco then Utopia, Emma Frost had become the undisputed Queen of Mutant kind. Even with her villianous ways behind her, Emma loved helping mutant kind and being a teacher.

  While she still has her air of superiority, Emma and Scott were strong leaders of the X-Men. Yet, she knew the dark road that Scott was going down. And many blame her as the catalyst as to why Scott Summers is now the way he is now. Yet, when you look at all the decisions, she made some of them but Scott proved himself behind his actions. Her love for Scott changed her ... wanting to make sure her being an X-Man and helping mutants very important to her. Yet, she is still a strong leader in her own right that should be celebrated for going to Charles' enemy to one of his biggest advocates. Yet, while she embraced the dream, she had no problem pointing out the holes in it and many things. Still, Emma Frost definitely earned her spot among the leaders of the X-Men.



HAVOK -

 The younger Summers brother has come a very long way since he first appeared as a tool for the Living Monolith. Alex Summers first showed his leadership skills when he was brainwashed to be a Magistrate for Genosha. Then, at the request of both Charles and Scott, Alex took the job leading the new government sponsored X-Factor. After a jaunt into an alternate reality leading a team called the Six, Alex returned and actually ended up taking leadership of an X-Men team from our next X-Men leader.

  During his tenure as a X-Men leader, Havok displayed confidence in leadership that was akin to his brother but seemed to surpass him with dealing with more volatile personalities ... considering he had Juggernaut, Wolverine, pre-Kyle Northstar & a bratty Iceman on his team ... that is certainly a feat. He made the unit work extremely well together.

 Now, Alex has become the positive face of Mutant kind with him as leader of the Uncanny Avengers.



  ROGUE -

       Rogue has come a VERY long way from the days where she was a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants alongside her Mom, Mystique. She was one of the most unpredictable X-Men, with her multiple personas in her head from all the people she absorbed, Rogue always seemed to be a wild card. Yet, little by little, Rogue worked hard to become a better person and X-Man. She grew in confidence to the point where she ended up taking leadership during a trip to the Shi'ar alongside Bishop, Gambit,  Joseph, Cannonball, Beast & Deathbird (there was a truce and she was banging Bishop).

      She later ended up leading a team of X-Men officially at least 3 times, her first with Thunderbird, Archangel, Psylocke, Nightcrawler & Colossus, 2nd time with Cannonball, Iceman, Cable, Mystique, Sabertooth, & lady Mastermind on it and that didn't turn out well but ...I digress. Rogue's team disbanded but she end up getting her multiple personalities from people she absorbed out of her head then learned to control her powers. She was then given the charge of looking after the Students. She grew to love the job and taking a strong command position in Utopia then again in the Jean Grey School, only having Kitty and Logan be ahead of her. This southern belle has come a very long way. From being very alone and stand offish with no control to her power to a confident, strong leader with full control of her abilities.


GAMBIT -

   Ah. Yes. This was definitely one of the most unpredictable leaders in X-Men history. Yes. Officially, Gambit lead the X-Men. He lead a team with him, Jean Grey, Beast, Cable, Storm and Bishop. Yeah. Gambit was leading a team over Storm, Jean & Cable. But under the very prolific pen of Chris Claremont, it worked. Jean was in mourning for the loss of Scott and was spending time with her 'son', Cable. Storm was getting a bit more free spirited after things went wrong during The Twelve storyline. So, Gambit stepped up. Stopping the Neo was important but the X-Men had been scattered.

    Gambit was an interesting leader but not a bad leader. He had a strong line-up with this group with Brains & power.Plus, this group was more than willing to  go on the wild side a bit more than others. And while Gambit was not leader very long ... he proved himself capable.


NIGHTCRAWLER -

    Kurt Wagner is one of the most beloved X-Men. He was always friendly to any other person that ever wore an X ...  till you gave him a reason not to be. Nightcrawler first temporary took over the X-men for Storm when she was getting over losing her powers. He then stepped up as the leader of Excalibur. When he came back to the X-Men, Kurt allowed his experience to work alongside Storm.

   Kurt was a team player till he got his chance to lead again as he lead a team of X-Men alongside Archangel, Iceman, Stacy X, Wolverine  & Chamber. Yet, after he was manipulated by an organization to thinking he became an ordained priest and was being used in order to fulfill some prophecy about the Devil in the Vatican (Chuck Asten wrote it.). That shook Kurt so much that he stepped down as leader and his team was then given over to the command of Havok. Still, Kurt proved himself a strong leader.


BISHOP -

    Bishop was first in charge of the XSE. When he came to the present day, Bishop had to learn to be an X-Man. And slowly but surely, Bishop grew into his role and into being an X-Man. He was no longer shoot first ... unless he found it was warranted. Bishop went from an angry man to seemingly a great investigator and model X-Man, warning the X-Men of a traitor.

   Well, the  traitor first ended up being Xavier himself. Yet, after Onslaught, Bishop roamed a bit till he made his way back to the X-Men. After Storm left her team, Bishop stepped up to lead it. Leading the team for a short time, Bishop led Nightcrawler, Rachel Grey, Psylocke & Cannonball ... he proved himself a leader and earned his command tags left. Unfortunately,  this was short lived after Hope Summers was born and Bishop betrayed the X-Men in order to stop his future from happening. Bishop reemerged recently in Uncanny X-Force # 1 (Volume 2).


WOLVERINE -

      Ever since Schism, Wolverine has stopped up. He has become the premiere student of Charles Xavier and the headmaster and over all leader of the X-Men (even though Storm seems to be working on getting back), Wolverine went from a feral, killing machine to a man who is dealing with his past by being a teacher and stopping these new mutants from making the same mistakes he did.

  Wolverine decided that he needed to be a better man after Cyclops was going "too far" in his opinion. The straw that broke the camel's back was Cyclops pretty much being okay with Idie, a 14 year old girl, killing a bunch of Hellfire Club members in order to save everyone else. Wolverine was the last person we all thought would become the champion of the dream but he opened the school again, renaming it the Jean Grey School and get



  Bis And there you have it. The official leaders of the X-Men in the 616 universe. I know some of you will say but Jean Grey was headmistress ... yet Cyclops was still overall field leader and she still listened to him.

Broken Infinite TV: Toon Vengeance (# 21)

We're back with more anime. We won't let you down like Cartoon Network. Get this anime fix any time, day or night. It's Toon Vengeance.

Broken Infinite TV: Toon Vengeance ( #19)

We're back babee! An all new Toon Vengeance featuring English Dubbed Anime. We got Rurouni Kenshin, Hunter X Hunter, Fushigi Yugi, Blue Seed, Paranoia Agent, Outlaw Star & more. Come once again as we dive into a solid line up of anime.

Comic News: Women Reign Over New X-Men Title

            It seems to be that X marks the spot in Marvel. It was announced today that there will be another X-book relaunching, X-Men. X-Men will be relaunched with a new # 1 by writer Brian Wood and art by Olivier Copiel. Yet, the focus of this book will be all of the X-Women. Yes, this book will boaster a cast that includes Kitty Pryde, Jubilee, Storm, Rogue, Rachel Grey & Psylocke.

            The first arc will deal with New X-Men Grant Morrison era creation, Sublime, returning with a baby that may hold the key to the survival of the human race, with Jubliee taking the lead in the story.

            Wood told USA Today, "I feel like as far as the X-Men go, the women are the X-Men. Cyclops and Wolverine are big names, but taken as a whole, the women kind of rule the franchise. If you look at the entire world as a whole, it's the females that really dominate and are the most interesting and cool to look at. When you have a great artist drawing them, they look so amazing and always have."

            X-Men # 1 will hit the shelves this April.

Holy Happy Birthdays REDUX!! - Year of Milestones in Geekdom

  Happy New Year to each and every single one of you. It is now 2013. As we brace ourselves for Second Impact (points to anyone who gets that anime reference), we look forward to a new year full of promise and unpredictability. The Broken Infinite is gearing up for a big year to give everyone something enjoyable. You will see new exclusive content. You will see new reviews. You will see new line-ups and ideas for BI TV. You will see use working alongside other sites to cover stories or promote each other. Broken Infinite will be building bridges .... and new towers.

   This year, 2013 is gonna be an unprecedented year. It is a year that will have major birthdays for some of the greatest , most interesting entities in geek culture. Prepare yourself for these are just some key things that are celebrating birthdays this year.


Turning 20 Years Old This Year:

     Milestone Media - the company who focused on diversity will have started 20 years ago. Now, , the company is responsible for launching and/or emerging the careers of some of comics biggest names today including the late Dwayne McDuffie, J.H. Williams III, Humberto Ramos, ChrisCross, Eric Battle, Shawn Martinbrough,  John Rozum & more. Static Shock cartoon came about from the Static comic book that has been one of Milestones launch titles.  The company has been best know for its hard-hitting, yet authentic story telling and diversity of characters and styles.

     Power Rangers - It is what fed many fans that are current Tokusatsu junkies their first tastes of Toku. The  property is still going strong today as Power Rangers Mega Force is set to debut this year. The multi-colored heroes go into actions against all kinds of enemies, monsters, robots and more. Yet, the legendary 1st season and other seasons are hitting many fans as the property has now reached the big 20.

     Virtual Fighter - Bingo. One of the most celebrated fighting game franchises turns the big 20 this year. It is the pioneer in 3d fighting games and still going strong today. This knuckle busting game has locked a loyal fan base as it turns 20 this year.



Turning 50 Years Old This Year:

  X-Men - That's right. Those crazy, super powered, often-misunderstood group of mutants turn 50 years old this year. And what does the year have in store for us? We got the former-boy scout Cyclops going all mutant rights militia with his upcoming Uncanny X-Men. We got Wolverine and the other X-Men dealing with the Jean Grey School and the Jean Grey (and the X-Men ) from the past. We got a crossover that deals with the fates of 3 different dimensions.We have Alex Summers in charge of a team of heroes that have both X-Men and Avengers in it. We got 2 different X-Force Teams. And we got mutant detectives in X-Factor. Boy ... this is gonna be a banner of a year for the X-Men.

The Avengers - Wow. We just finished Avengers vs. X-Men and their birthdays are tied together. And yet, Earth's Mightiest Heroes continues on as they get to show off their best in Jonathan Hickman's Marvel NOW. As they continue to fight the greatest threats to man, The Avengers will stand tall as they are about to embark in the AGE OF ULTRON.

Doctor Who - The sci-fi classic has been going on for 50 years now, minus the dark age between the 90s to the mid 2000s. Each Doctor has entertained audiences, now growing into its 3rd Generation of fans. With the 11th Doctor continuing to enrapture fans around the world alongside an extensive collection of classic episodes, Doctor Who is poised to take this year by storm.



And Turning 75 this year . . . .

 SUPERMAN - The Man of Steel. The Ultimate Boy Scout (sorry Cap). Clark Kent has been fighting for 75 years now. He has entranced fans for nearly a century. This year, Superman becomes and even bigger force to be reckoned with as the new Man of Steel movie is coming along side a new title by writer Scott Snyder and superstar artist Jim Lee. He's now dating Wonder woman and there is so many things going on with Superman. What will come for him next, we will just have to wait and see.


  What does this mean? It means we are going to be celebrating. We will be celebrating the birthdays of each of these properties in various ways. Look out for countdowns, specials, videos and more from the Broken Infinite the next few weeks to celebrate these geek properties.

  Also, look for a lot of new, original content. From comics, to podcasts and more, Broken Infinite is poised to give you entertainment that will make you smile, think and laugh. Thank you for joining us this far into the Infinite ... are you ready for the next step?



Sincerely,


Francisco (Frankie) K. Rodriguez
President/Founder/Editor-in-Chief of The Broken Infinite
francisco.k.rodriguez@gmail.com
deusexfandom@gmail.com

Broken Infinite TV: Toon Vengeance (18th Edition)

Welcome to 2013. We got a great line up. We got some returning shows and we got some new ones.Some of our new shows include a swordsman, some magic, a Spirit Detective & an anime comedy classic. Check it out!!

Comic Review: Cable & X-Force

CABLE & X-FORCE
Written by Dennis Hopeless
Art by Salvador Larocca & Frank D'Armata
Marvel Comics


INFORMATION:

    X-Force has had many incarnations since it formed back in the early 90s. It was originally the evolution of the New Mutants to a full fledged military team, lead by Cable. As time went on, Cannonball had become leader for a team. Siryn had taken a stint as leader alongside Sunspot. Pete Wisdom had taken over X-Force for a short time as Warpath was able to fly for a while. Then things changed with a brand new roster that became a fan favorite by Mike Allred. That team became the X-Statix and X-Force disbanded for a time.

  Wolverine had reformed X-Force as the leading tracking and assassination team for mutants, dealing with Black Ops. After his first roster was "disbanded" by Cyclops, Wolverine and Archangel formed a new Uncanny X-Force ... which just recently ended. Now ... X-Force is about to split into 2. And Cable is back.


FLIPPING THROUGH:

   The book starts at an interesting point where the team is formed ... and found with a LOT of unarmed dead bodies by Havok and the Uncanny Avengers. Yep ... Cable is stopped by his uncle Alex. And it does not look good. While Alex tries to get Nate to give him the 411 on what's going on, Captain America wants to arrest them fast ... and gets shut down by Alex for it.  Cable and his team doesn't go and then we look to see how that team is formed.

   Plus, we get to see what Hope's been up to since the end of Avengers vs X-Men. Plus, you find out that Cable is having a hard time adjusting to not having the techno-organic virus after so long (since X-Factor #68 to be exact). And while Colossus is the only person we don't really see get thrown into the mix ... we do see that this team is definitely going to be smarter with both Forge and Doctor Nemesis on it.

ART:

   The style that Larocca's art has evolved to is beautiful and wonderous to look at. Here ... it seems that he's starting to fuse his current style with some of his older sensibilities. And it looks GREAT. People are really detailed and specific. Emotions and action are wonderfully rendered. D'Armata's colors really help set the tone and mood alongside Larocca's pencils & inks.
  The character's have a slightly darker pitch to them than they did when Larocca's was on Iron Man. Yet, it works every well here. The extra detail helps distinguish age in Larocca's work which is definitely welcome.


WRITING:

  This is my first exposure to Hopeless's writing. And I will admit, I am impressed. He has the character voices down pat. From Domino, to Alex, to Forge to Cable to Dr. Nemesis ... Hopeless has really done a great job showing us these characters in a true light. I loved how Cable decided to watch his daughter from afar ... which definitely fits Cable's M.O. and personality.

   Domino was still Domino and I loved it. The pacing in the issue was good but felt a bit ...incomplete. While I like how the issue ended, it felt like there should have been more to this issue up to that point. Hopeless utilized what he had very well. But I just felt that there was a scene missing. Not necessarily Colossus but something else.

 Otherwise, the issue definitely built itself up as a great start for this new X-Force.


OVERALL IMPRESSION:

    Hopeless, Larocca & D'Armata bring a fresh new look with some old familiars with Cable & X-Force. Outside of the law again but their formation comes from necessity it seems.  We have some great designs. An interesting group of characters. A familiar looking threat. And some great plot lines starting up for this first issue. Besides that feeling I have of something missing, this was a great, solid issue.


I give Cable & X-Force #1  a 4 ... out of 5. 

Broken Infinite TV: Comic Book Crave (#10)

It is back. Comic book cartoons and shows for your enjoyment. It is time to get your power rings, swords, guns or capes and spring into action. It's Comic Book Crave and it starts ... NOW:

Comic Review: All New X-Men #1

FIRST IMPRESSION


ALL NEW X-MEN # 1
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger & Marte Garcia
Marvel Comics



  INFO:

        A lot has changed over the last several years. Cyclops, dealing with the weight of being the leader of mutant kind, decided it was time to protect mutants and turned his back on his dream of co-existence. And while having Asteroid M become its own Mutant Nation seemed like a good idea ... at the end of the day, it wasn't. Isolating Mutants from Humans only made things worse. Schism ripped apart the team. And Scott Summers seemed fine with some of the decisions he's made.

    Then the Avengers ... led by Captain America Steve Rodgers .... in all his wisdom, decide when they found out Scott's granddaughter was the next host of the Phoenix, that they were gonna take her: whether she wanted to be taken or not.

   This lead to a war between the X-Men and the Avengers ... which flip flopped in which side was doing wrong. At the end of the day, it took the X-Men and the Avengers against the 5 X-Men who became the Hosts for the Phoenix (Cyclops, Emma Frost, Namor, Magik & Colossus) to take them down. Scott Summers was imprisoned after he and the Phoenix 5 were out of control . .. including Scott killing Professor Xavier when he became the Dark Phoenix.

   Scarlet Witch, Hope Summers and the others were finally about to free Scott of the Phoenix but it changed him even further. Scott Summers completely turned his back on Xavier's dream. After breaking out of prison, Scott leads Magneto, Emma Frost & Magik on his crusade to help mutantkind his way.



 FLIPPING THROUGH:

     This is the beginning of Brian Michael Bendis' run on the X-Men. This first issue. And it starts with a bang. Hank finds that he is mutating again ... possibly a result from the Phoenix's dispersion reactivating mutants worldwide, giving way to some serious issue for Hank.

Then we see Scott doing what he's become known for ... attacking humans if there is a mutant nearby. Actually, Scott and his team find 2 new mutants. Sure. They beat up comes and feds in order to get them. And both mutants seem like they were being perscuted by humans but ...

Back at the mansion, we get Storm, Kitty, Bobby and Hank talking about what Scott is doing. Iceman reminences that the Scott of old would slap some sense into Scott of present day. Which ends up giving Hank and idea ...

   We see the original X-Men as teens. Young Hank says he is fed up protecting humans.  Just before he leaves he runs into ... himself  ... older. bigger. Present day Beast talk to the original X-Men for his big plan ... for young Cyclops to talk to old Cyclops in order to save Scott from becoming what he is now.



ART:

   Stuart Immonen's art has evolved a lot since his days as artist on DC's Legion of Super Heroes. The style has changed drastically. And it definitely works here. The pages are kinetic. The action is vibrant. The emotions feel really and almost palpable. You can tell that Immonen is having fun with this. Even more so than he did with Fear Itself. I can honestly say that besides his work on New Avengers .... All New X-Men seems to be the most his work has come to life since Nextwave. And that is saying a lot.

     Wade Von Grawbadger's inks really help give the power to Immonen's pencils. Really strong black but not too deep in inks that the book would look dark. This is not a dark, depressing book. Still, the inks help Immon's pencils give a strong first impression. Well done Wade.

   Marte Garcia ... I thank the comic book gods for you. Your colors were exquisite in this first issue. They really gave Immonen's & Grawbadger 's pencils and inks. This world is very different and alive. You can feel the excitement off the pages. The mood and colors for the X-Men of the Past and Present day Beast are even a little different. Slightly enough to show the difference in attitude and manner. Well done to Marte Garcia.


WRITING:

    Brian Michael Bendis. People either love him or hate it  it seems. He either brings horror or joy. And I can honestly say that Bendis is off to a better start here than he was when he wrote Avengers Dissembled years ago. The pacing is   excellent. The dialogue was very natural. We see the national progression of the characters we have followed since AvX, if not before that.

   This is a new world. Mutants are no longer endangered. And Scott Summers is considered a criminal. Makes you think, doesn't it? And we get to see the world quickly as new mutants are popping up and guns are being pointed. And Scott ... in his infinite wisdom ... decides he needs to help mutants his way.

   All the motivations of the characters feel real. All the choices that the characters have made feel authentic. This is truly a great start for this book. My only real gripe ... it feels breezy. I enjoyed the issue but I expected more.

 Nothing was really disappointing. I just felt like a scene was missing from the issue. I just felt like the issue stopped more than ended.  Otherwise,  great writing by Mr. Bendis.


OVERALL IMPRESSION:

    All New X-Men #1 set a new bar. Bendis has the reigns now and I am gonna enjoy it. This along with Wolverine and the X-Men and the other X-books, it is an interesting time to be a mutant. I am very happy to see that this is the start of something new for the X-Men. Roles have changed. People have changed. They are all evolving and this book gives you a front row to that evolution.

    Despite the feeling that their could have been more, it was a great start to the Bendis X-Men era. Immonen and company paint a clear picture of it and it is gonna be a fun ride.


I give All New X-Men #1 a 4 out of 5. Not bad Marvel. Not bad.

Comic News: Adjectiveless X-Men Book to End in February

 Marvel NOW has started with new titles popping out every week this month and more. Yet, with new titles coming in, there are casualties: Titles that are being cut and/or cancelled. Well, the latest book to join the chopping block is "X-Men." Announced this Friday, X-Men final issue will be #41. It will be written by Seth Peck with art by Jeffe Palo.

   The final issue will feature Storm taking a team of X-Men to find a new mutant only to find Angel challenging her for leadership. Which is kind of weird cause Angel isn't really Warren Worthington anymore (at least not the one we knew) so he's been kind of just there. Still should be interesting.


  The final issue of X-Men will be written by Seth Peck with art by Jeffe Palo and a variant cover by Adam Kubert and hits stores in February.

Broken Infinite TV: Comic Book Crave (#9)

We got some great Superhero goodies for you. We got episodes of  The Tick, Ruby Spears Superman, WildCATS, Specatcular Spiderman, Teen Titans, Static Shock, Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Justice League, Savage Dragon, Nightman, Static Shock, X-Men,Spawn and our movie this week ... the Dr. Strange pilot from the late 70s. So dive into a brand new Comic Book Crave.

Broken Infinite TV: Comic Book Crave (Vol. 1, #8)

Comic Book Crave Returns. After a week off due to the holiday, it is back and ready for more. Get ready for great comic book action & adventure.

Countdown: Top 25 Best Comic Book Cartoon Openings!

 I needed a week off from doing news. I wanted to do something a little different during this past holiday. And I think I found it.

   Many of us are fans of comic books to the point that we are gonna die comic book fans. And as television became such a big part of comic book medium in general, studios began to pump out more and more cartoons. And Maaaaaaaaaaaannnnnn . . .  there have been a LOT of comic book cartoons. And some cartoons from the most surprising places.

  The following is my list of personal favorite Comic book Cartoon Openings. And since there are cartoon openings, there will be no sign of the live action Adam West Batman theme or Wonder Woman theme here. Yet, this will have some very interesting shows. We have several incarnations of a team and two of the most recognized heroes on the planet. These are measured by song, popularity of the show, popularity of the character, popularity of the song, arrangement and content of the opening. So sit back, relax . . . smell the nostalgia. Welcome to My . . .


 TOP 25 BEST COMIC BOOK CARTOON OPENINGS


by Frankie Rodriguez

25) - THE MIGHTY THOR  (1966)

    Okay. It's only 20 seconds. And you see rainbows for a nice chunk of it. You see Asgard. And it is pretty old. Yes.  Now watch it again. Seriously . . . And listen this time.

Cross the Rainbow Bridge of Asgard where the blooming heavens roar
You'll be held in Breathless wonder, the God of Thunder, Mighty Thor 

  The fact that it shows where Thor came from, shows us some lightning and thunder was a big plus. The choir singing this song was very good at giving itself a mystical feel to their singing. They acknowledge that Thor is supposed to be this amazing character . . . from a place with a rainbow bridge. Sure, laugh it up but the song tells us we will be in breathless wonder from this God of Thunder and how close to Jack Kirby art that Thor looked . . . that was amazing. It gave people just enough to want to see and hear more of Thor.

Unfortunately, it's a very short opening and could have used a bit more meat to it. Which it is why it is on our final spot. Still . . . if you want to see more, look up episodes on Youtube and see the Mighty Thor!! (you know, cause he's dead in the comics for now)


24) WITCHBLADE (2006) - XTC by Psychic Lover 

     Top Cow's only entrant in our illustrious countdown. The opening is a nicely dark & haunting, while being sexy and violent all in one foul swoop. The images of the latest bearer of the Witchblade, Masane Amaha, is in a ravaged japan dealing with her new powers while being a single mother to her daughter, Rihoko. The opening shows us the dangers that she must face but also how the Witchblade has somewhat changes Masane, making her go through an actual internal struggle. The dark rock mixed with the hard and more upbeat chorus really helps work with the visuals and Masane's struggle. The fact that the song, XTC, is done by pop J-rock band Psychic Lover, who is known for anime & sentai openings (Yugioh GX opening, Boukenger Opening & Closing, etc.)

 As to why it's 24? Well, it only lasted a single season and it is not even about the Witchblade bearer that we  know. It's a whole new character with little connecting her to her predecessors other than the Witchblade itself. That and the show met with minimum popularity. This is done again in this countdown but in a much better way. But still, when Masane in full Witchblade gear comes at you for her XTC . . . you'd better give it to her.


23) SILVER SURFER (1996)

   Marvel Strikes again with this theme. This orchestral theme really works for Silver Surfer, giving depth to the vast space that he is part of and gives food to his master, Galactus. The art mixes computer generation well with the cell animation, just giving you the feeling that this was gonna be EPIC.

The Problem? Make that Problems. First, there are very few visuals in the 30 second opening. Seriously, we see more of Galactus and Silver Surfer than anything else in that period. And lots and lots of space. Silver Surfer should be in space yes but for the love . . . give us a little more of his rogues gallery or something. And  it being only 30 seconds hurts what could have easily been a theme for the ages.  Despite that, it does give a great epic feel and vastness of space.


22) ULTRAFORCE  (1995)

 Who are Ultraforce you say? Don't know who they are you say? Back when comics was in a big boom, Malibu comics had licensed out their characters for a cartoon. And it lasted . . . a season. One Season. Yep. Tanked. But still, this opening is incredible. The music is fast and interesting, giving this group its own feel. The characters are introduced to you, not through song but through visuals . . . which include their own names, moods and power sets explained and the art for it was amazing . ..  noting that there was definite George Perez influence, the man who original penciled Ultraforce when it first came out back in 1994, used for the art. The problem with this that one, you might not even know who they are . . . and 2, this was already done MUCH better. But you will see that later in the countdown. Still, if you want to take a look at a team from Malibu's Ultraverse, this would be it.


21) SUPER FRIENDS (1973)

     Well, I know there are gonna be some controversy with this. The first DC entry and its the Superfriends. This iconic theme . . . all the way down in 21. But you ask . . . why? oh why? It's awesome. Yes it is awesome. It is iconic since they used a variation of it for 11 years. But here is my issue with this theme; while it works great with the animation, the fact that we are being told what they do works against it, not for it like Thor. Second, while visually appealing, the music gives Epic when I see campy and laughable. Sure, it was the 70s and all but still, you got big superheroes and two kids that don't seem to know what they are doing. Where is child services? Sigh. Still, this is ICONIC and good to listen to. It was used better later on but the damage had been done.

20) BLADE (2011)

     Okay. Okay. I know I know. I can hear the "are you kidding me"s from here. But make no mistake, this show has one brilliantly epic theme behind it. The techno rock opening to the anime has a look and feel of the live action movies. It flows with the visuals well. And Blade looks a lot like his comic book counter part. It is amazing how well it looks. The downside . . . well, some of the vampires look a little more special than others, which can be confusing. And while the visuals synch up, I am still a little confused on some of them. Still, it is full of awesome and win which makes it get here. Kudos to Marvel & Madhouse for making a great theme to a character that should be getting more play in the comics . . . and yes, that is another reason why it is lower on the countdown.


19) IRON MAN (SEASON 2-1994)

   Surprise. Surprise. You were thinking I would say his latest cartoon Armored Adventures or even the new anime. WRONG! What those and the first season of this show's theme lacked, this opening makes up for in spades. The sound of "I Am" with Tony Stark, damaged heart & all, pounding on steel to make new arm to the great guitar solo in the opening, this opening showed Tony's ingenuity, his sense of duty, his intelligence and how manly and awesome Tony Stark can be. We saw Tony build an armor, put it together, displayed his various other armors, him putting it on and then fly off like it was nothing. THAT IS AWESOME!

Yet the problem was is that this show was cancelled after this season. That and the fact that we didn't get to see Rhodey at all, who is a supporting cast member of the show. Such a shame for Iron Man getting cancelled, for it and Fantastic Four's second seasons during the 90s were so much better than their first seasons. Cest la vie. But if you are a man and you like Iron Man, this is the opening for you.


18) TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (1987)

 Wait. Wait. Don't kill me. Stop booing me. I know a LOT of you fans like this old theme. Some of you are like, BLASPHEMER. Allow me to explain. This song was fun, charged with energy and full of exciting adventure and action with 4 teenaged turtles who were ninjas. And they were fighting against a group called the foot and an alien brain named Krang.

The opening was catchy and addictive and they used it for YEARS. The original show lasted about a decade on tv. Yes . . .THAT LONG. My problem with the theme steams from a couple of things . . .

1 - How are they ninjas when they have multicolored scarfs . . . some that can be seen easily at night.

2 -  Why do we need them showing off their weapons while standing still.

3 - We are told more than shown that they are the worlds most fearsome fighting teens.

And

Finally - IT IS A BASTARDIZATION OF THE ORIGINAL WORK!!!

 I am sorry if I am getting people made but this old cartoon was a joke. Sure it was fun to watch. I know I did but seriously . . . Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has always been, according to co-creator Kevin Eastman, a love letter to Daredevil. Think about it. And does THIS look like a love letter to Daredevil or its original product? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Still, the opening is kind of infectious which is why its number 18 on the countdown.


17) WILDC.A.T.S. (1995)

  I know. You are probably laughing. Go ahead. You got it out of your system? Yeah? Good. Why does this rate higher than some of the others. Honestly, there are several reasons. The song is actually kinda of catchy for the most part. The art style is doing its best to do Jim Lee come to life. The opening has a lot of good action that makes you interested. You see the major players. You see the main characters. You get very little of the heroes thanks to the rap . . Oh the rap. *sigh*

  Okay. The rap is BAD. Just very bad. And while the animation looks okay, there are some hiccups here and there. And the song is more nonsensical than it really should be. We know they are heroes. And that is pretty much it. We hear how awesome they are and they show it but . . . eh . . . Still, the tune is catchy and will stay with you.


16) X-MEN (ANIME -2011)

   Epic. JUST EPIC! EPIC! That is what this opening is. With its orchestra, stunning visuals and great pace, we get to see the X-Men in a brand new way. Taking notes from Grant Morrison, the look of the X-Men is very much like his new X-MEN run with some changes. Plus, the little notes on the characters are appreciated. You can tell that this was gonna be a great epic like none other.

 The problem is that people who don't know X-Men are gonna be confused as to who they are fighting and why. The villains are never really revealed until you watch the show which is a double edged sword for this show. Plus, with all the epic, we got names for all the good guys . . . why not the bad guys? And Emma Frost & Armor are main characters but their names are not up on their. Overall, a great way to kick off this new anime.


15) THE BATMAN (SEASON 1) 

    When this show first was announce, I, like many fans, were skeptical. It was definitely very different from the Bruce Timm beloved Batman Animated series which still hold roots today. This show was different. From look to feel. Yet it was a bit more frightening at times . . . at least it was with this theme. This theme definitely gave you a much darker Gotham City. More violent. And the visuals were definitely giving that off. The guitar of this song, by legendary guitarist, U2's The Edge, was soulful, horrific and dark in a way that pounded at your soul. Thus creating a darker Batman.

Unfortunately, the soul wasn't quite living up to that darker side after a while and this theme was dropped after the first season. The theme was so good that it felt as if it might not even belong with this show. And that is why it goes down but still . . . with the frightening whisper of "The Batman" at the end of the song, you will remember this theme.


14) TEEN TITANS (2003)

    Yay! Teen Titans! Go! Teen Titans! GO! This unbridled joy of the song is part of its infectiousness. You listen to it and you bob your head. You start trying to sing it. You enjoy it and the visuals of their name constantly bombarding you alongside just the stars of our show . . . and only the stars of the show and their base. The style is great and visuals are sweet while awesome.
  The problem is the song itself. We all know that it is two japanese j pop artists (Puffy Ami Yumi) doing the song in English and we got Engrish. And that wouldn't be bad but to this day . . . I still don't understand the second part of the second verse. Seriously. I HAVE NEVER UNDERSTOOD. Plus, the whole lack of what they are fighting is a little . . . interesting at times. And while the designs of the Titans go from awesome to what the frell, over all, this is a great . . .sweet, sugary pop theme that will make you have cavities in seconds.

13) INCREDIBLE HULK (1996) 

   How appropriate a number for one of the most interesting and unlucky characters of the Marvel Universe. Bruce Banner has to go through so much. And This theme shows that in spades. With a great instrumental going with the visuals that start slow but pick up and add on and on till you are bombarded, much like the Hulk is. It is an incredible opening that just grabs you in and holds on to you through a ride.

Unfortunately, the bombardment is a bit much when it comes to the opening. It feels as if you are suffocating with the Hulk, even after he smashes through stuff. And while the instrumental is great and fits so well, it is the visual sensory overload that takes this theme down. That and the fact that this opening was only one for a single season till they toned it down with some She-Hulk. Otherwise, Hulk would be sitting on the top.


12)  FANTASTIC FOUR (SEASON 2 -1994)

 

The Fantastic Four have have Various incarnations in cartoon form over the years. Yet, this particular season, the second season of the Fantastic Four from the 90s which had better art, better story telling and wonderful episodes that could be held up against its source material. This opening reflected so much in so little time.
   The joy that comes from this teams exploration. The EPIC villains they have with that giant sized Dr. Doom, they're differences in powers and personalities as well as them being a family that have been together for a while.
  Each of this are so well done that make this theme nearly perfect for the team. And while it is pretty great for the Fantastic Four, one of its biggest problems was that it sounded . . .dated. While I am all for using older material told today, the sound of your theme should not sound as old as your parents. That coupled with the fact that this theme was only used for this one last season . . . brings it down a bit but Marvel's First Family still has one of the greatest cartoon themes of all time in my mind.


11 )  STATIC SHOCK (SEASON 1 OPENING)

 

  This is pure nostalgia for me in multiple ways. Bruce Timm involved. Dwayne McDuffie one of the writers and over looked the show, as well as one of the characters creators. This show was gonna be great as a major fan of the Milestone line of books. And How I loved Static as a character. This opening was such a great introduction to a character that, once again, went a lot farther along than most people thought. The opening gave us great uses of his powers, a bit of his life at home and him being the smart hero as it is while giving us the background of his urban home of Dakota. This opening caputured that well yet there just seemed to be something missing.
  It is not a bad theme and I love listening to it. I guess I wanted a little more from Static's theme. The theme just needed a little more . . .and I don't mean Lil Romeo. Otherwise, this theme would topped the charts with ease.


10) BATMAN BEYOND 

 Oh man! THIS THEME . . IS  . . AWESOME!! The guitar with the techno, making a dark yet powerful blend to the ears. The Animation showing a very different and darker future for Gotham City that needs a new Batman. Our new hero, rising out of his own tragedy to take the mantle. The original hero still there, older. The grainy animation added to the mystique of the opening. With a great beat that will not leave your head, you will listen to this over and over again.

This is taking a classic character and doing them justice with a new face. And that is why this theme does so much better than other themes similar to it . . . like Witchblade. The only real pit fall to it is that sometime you can see how overly stylized it gets in the opening, which detracts from the music. Otherwise, get ready to go Beyond with Batman Beyond.


9) SPECTACULAR SPIDERMAN

 This series was severely underrated and under appreciated by the networks. And this opening was no different. It has a great simplicity with its lyrics that are easy to follow with a great sound. The visuals were appealing. And a great way to see his origin and his supporting characters along with the beat of the music.

What brings this opening down is the fact how I can understand how the guitar is supposed to mimic a spider in some sense but it gives the series a darker feeling than it should. Other than that, this is a great theme and recommend it to anyone. Sorry Hector for not choosing the 90s theme. This one is better.


8) SUPERMAN (1988)

I love this theme. It is so epic. Fits with Superman so well. And the announcer is saying stuff we all know about Superman with some stunning visuals going on. This is a near flawless opening. Seriously, it is EPIC and AWESOME.

The problem is that we've heard it before in all the Superman movies from the late 70s, early 80s. Seriously . . . it is the same main theme of Superman from the movies. Not that it is a bad thing. It is smart marketing. Still, they had a chance to give the cartoon its own brand here and they didn't take advantage of it. Ah well. Next time Superman. *hears knock, goes to open* Oh hey Geo! What's up? *hear a punch and me going through a window. I land on the ground and look up for a moment* I'm . . . sorry.


7)  BLACK PANTHER (2010) 

   When I first heard this theme and saw the opening, I was hooked. I wanted to know more and loved what I was seeing and hearing. The rendering of John Romita Jrs. art as animation with the music was done perfect. The visuals were all interesting and beautiful, giving way to its rich African roots. Getting an idea of both the cast, its surroundings along with the actors and actresses was very smart. The opening flows very well. The music is a great representation of Wakanda, mix traditional and ancient traditions with technology today, mixing tribal with hip hop flawlessly.

 The only reason it is not high is cause it is more recent and the fact that the show only last 6 episodes. Tis a shame. But this theme will live on in infamy and holds a special place in my heart. Now to listen to it as I dance . . .


6) SPAWN (1998)

  This cartoon broke new ground. It was almost exactly like the cartoon with its violence, sex and dark, yet rich visuals. Making full use of the ideals set in the comic, this opening was very much Spawn come to life. The style was similar to Todd McFarlene's, his creator and original artist, that it worked well yet still different that it did not hinder the animation.

  This opening was mysterious, full of dark imagery and haunting things . . . like Al Simmons burnt face. And let me tell you . . . this opening scared the crap out of me. Seriously, this opening had me scared from the world go but I loved every second of it. It is so simplistic that it lets you have just enough to draw you in.

The only real problem was that it felt too simplistic in letting me imagine and I would think about not watching it cause I was scared. There. I admit. But one listen and look at this opening and you will know why.

5)  SPIDERMAN (1966) 

   Talk about Iconic themes. You look at the opening and you see him swinging his web and going from one place to another. Spiderman! You probably know the words. Your parents know the words. Everyone you know knows the worlds. Your future wife or husband knows the words to the song. It is catchy and accurate. The opening itself allows you to see Spiderman swing around.

Which gets me to why I put it in #5. Did you remember how the opening looked like BEFORE you pressed play on here? Did you? Me neither. The song transcended the opening animation. And that is a great accomplishment but you don't remember the opening other than the song makes you wonder what was there and that is why this theme is #5.


4) JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED (2004)

   This theme was awesome. It started off with a great orchestra building up to a great guitar with a symphony. And bang, you are in for it. And with the pictures of any episode in between some stunning Timm designed characters of the DC Universe on there, you were just glued. The fact that parts of the opening changed every episode kept the opening fresh. And that fact that there was a variable cast of thousands.

You see all the main leagues from Justice League plus a bunch of new members. Yet, with all that, the downfall of this opening is its strength. Depending on the visuals they used, they either enhanced the opening or spoiled it for you. Sometimes, you were feeling very excited, other times . . . the opening made you blah.
Other than that, this show's opening is still among the very best that I remember fondly at our #4.

3) AVENGERS: EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES (2010)

 I will be honest. This song was a surprise. When they announced the show, I expected some kind of general instrumental. Then I saw and heard the opening for this show. And my is it GLORIOUS!!! The lyrics work so well for the Avengers as the visuals show each Avenger in a place of origin while Iron Man is looking at them then they get together and when you hear "Avengers Assemble", you lose your mind in excitement as the song kicks up its chorus.

 The fact that the song can work on its on as a single on its own is nearly unheard of in the US but common practice to shows in Japan. This visuals of the group fighting then getting together get you excited with the group shot at the end. It makes it all worth it.

The only reason this didn't top the countdown is cause of how overly effect the top 2 songs are. Yet, given time, this song might over take them.

2) X- MEN (1993)

   It is a safe bet that most people, unless they are under the age of 18, know the X-Men cartoon theme from the 90s. It has been heard millions of times since then. So much so that many people think of it whenever they see something dealing with the X-Men and have not forgotten it. The instrumentals working at a great pace at first but builds and builds and builds and explodes at the end. You see the characters get introduced with names and an idea of their powers. You see some of their enemies. This show's theme and opening has been so greatly revered, it has not left most people's minds.

The only reason why it did not top the countdown is cause the #1 is THAT MUCH MORE PERFECT & MEMORABLE.


 ....

THE NUMBER 1 TOP COMIC BOOK CARTOON THEME OF ALL TIME IS . . .



. . .

1)  BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (1992) 

  You should have guessed it. But yes. It is none other than Bruce Timm's great creation that still holds threads today. This theme started not just the long and GLORIOUS dealings of us having Kevin Conroy as Batman & Mark Hammill as the Joker . . . it started a DYNASTY of themes. Justice League Unlimited, Static Shock, Batman Beyond could NOT have been here if it weren't for this opening. So beloved that this theme was worked into Batman Movies and used over and over and over and over again throughout the DC animated universe.

 Anyone who has seen this opening remembers it. It still plays now on the Hub and other channels. You want to see who Batman is, watch the opening. Want to know how Gotham City is like? Watch the opening. Want to know how Epic Batman is . . . WATCH THE OPENING. It gives you just enough to want more and be hooked. The theme's orchastra gives a perfect blend of music to work with Batman's actions as well as visuals. Even after nearly 20 years now . . . I have not forgotten this theme. Have you?  . . . See what I mean.

 It is so grand and epic to work with a man dressed in a bat suit and it does perfectly. Thus why it is my number 1 pick for Top 25 Comic Book Cartoon Openings of all time.

Hope you enjoyed this special as I enjoyed writing it. This is Frankie Rodriguez saying thank you, good bye and good night.

First Impressions: Gambit #1

FIRST IMPRESSIONS


GAMBIT #1
Written by James Asmus
Art by Clay Mann, Seth Mann & Rachelle Rosenberg
Marvel Comics


 INTRODUCTION:

    Gambit has been one of the more popular X-Men over the course of his introduction in the 90s. Gambit was this roguish (ha, I made a punny), charming thief that took women's hearts and burned any enemy that he came across. The character was featured as a member of the now classic 90s X-Men cartoon. He was a thief in the Thieves Guild. Former husband to the Assassin's Guild leader Belladonna.  He has been an X-Men for years. Then after feel degraded and somewhat less, he took a stint on  recent incarnations on the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse and the Mauraders only to rejoin the X-Men. (We later find out that the only reason he joined the Mauraders was to help cure Rogue of her powers overwhelming her in the first place). Now, for the first time since the 90s, Gambit will have his own solo book again. And writer James Asmus has gone on record several times (on both Newsrama and Comic Book Resources) that he wants to make the character sexy again and have the excitement that he had when he first joined up.

  Let's find out if he succeeds.



FLIPPING THROUGH:

    Gambit ... giving some fan service, gets out of the shower and decides it is time to start thieving again. His reasoning ... to get back to who he is besides a teacher at the Jean Grey School. Oh. This can't end well. Gambit goes to a major super villian weapons dealer and find his suave, thieing troots with and interesting heist from Mr. Cich.

   We also meet a mysterious woman and Gambit gets to succeed and escape with a token from Cich. Well, I guess I was wrong about it not ...

Flips through the last page.

   DAMN IT!


ART:

    Clay Mann is penciling some of the best work in his career with this one. There is a great amount of realism mixed with classic comic book sensibilities. Gambit's return to his roots needs him to be a bit less loud than his pink and black costume. And Clay really pulls it off here. Remy is sleek looking, pleasing to the eyes. He is giving off that this book will be filled with adventure and ooze sexy. And while Seth Mann's inks are good, deeper inks would have been better. Rachelle Rosenberg colors are great and help set tone and mood to Clay's pencils. Yet, it seems that Seth's ink seem to look much better, almost realistic in darker tones.

   In scenes where Remy is in the daylight, the inks look thin and do not pronounce the characters as much as they do in the shadows. Otherwise, the book definitely is visual appealing.

WRITING:

   James Asmus has gone on record several times that he was going to make Gambit sexy and dangerous again. That he was gonna make him lose the 'head sock' and bring him back to his thieving roots. And from the looks of this first issue, he did just that. Asmus performed a lot of smart writing in this issue. If you had not being reading anything of Gambit before this issue, it was a perfect jump on point for the character. He was looking at his life of late and decided he needed to be him. Remy felt that he had been so busy with the Jean Grey School and hanging with the X-Men that he needed to go back to his roots and get himself back.

  If you had read anything dealing with Gambit before picking up this first issue, you will find that Asmus has masterfully binded all the recent developments with Gambit in both X-Men Legacy and Astonishing X-Men; finding that while Gambit enjoys his job as a teacher, he has been feeling like something was missing. Building on those, Asmus brings us a man who is going back to basics after being lost just living life. Even the way that Remy broken into the vault in this issue was very smartly written. Nearly every single panel in the book has purpose and moves things along in the book. Was Remy charming? Yes. Was Remy sexy? Yes. Was Remy interesting and being dangerous like he used to be? Absolutely. It is relatable and very vunerable behind his charming, near fearless facade. Remy is sexy and dangerous again here.


OVERALL IMPRESSION:

  Gambit #1 is a natural and fun evolution of a long time, favorite character. It is about a man going back to his roots. And while some of the art in the book seemed a bit thin in some pages, it was still very much gorgeous to look at. Sleek, sexy and charming, Gambit will steal your heart and .... other things. It definitely feels like it is gonna be a fun ride.

I give Gambit # 1 a 4 out of 5. Take that ,mon chere.