Book Review: The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 by G. Simone

The Uncanny X-Men Volume 1: Red Wave written by Gail Simone, art by David Marquez and Javier Garron

After the mutant island nation of Krakoa is wiped out, mutants are back on the run. Charles Xavier has also died, leaving no positive leadership and no group known as the X-Men. His Westchester school has fallen into the hands of a nefarious agency that turns it into a prison for mutants though the conversion is still in progress. Rogue and Gambit have married and are on a second honeymoon in Mexico when they get pulled back to the States to help out some fellow mutants in Louisiana. The call came from Jubilee who is tired of trying to hide her powers. Nightcrawler and Wolverine join up too. The informal team visits a mutant child dying in a hospital and then meets a quartet of mutants, one of whom may be the "Endling," the mutant who will see the last of the mutants die in a near future. Possibly by one of the many hunters sent by the nefarious agency that wants to put the four kids into custody.

The story shakes things up by having Rogue in charge of the team. She's okay as a leader but doesn't have presence that Professor X, Storm, or Cyclops has. She does okay but she does not do anything outstanding. Things move at a good pace but there is very little joy or excitement on display. Simone is a good writer but this is only average work. I don't think I will continue this series.

Mildly recommended.

Book Review: James Bond: Reflections of Death by G. Pak et al.

James Bond in "Reflections of Death" published by Dynamite Comics

James Bond is on the go in a six-chapter story with a different artistic team for each chapter! 

"The Broker" script by Vita Ayala and Danny Lore, art by Jordi Perez, and color by Kike J. Diaz

Miss Moneypenny is kidnapped by someone who wants to get information out of her, specifically about James Bond. She has some training but the kidnappers have a new drug that should work wonders on her free will. The kidnapper asks for stories about Bond, so we get the following ones, interspersed with more of the Moneypenny plot.

"The Rare Dinner" script by Benjamin Percy, art by Kewber Baal, and color by Celeste Woods

Bond is in France trying to round up some Russian gangsters at a posh restaurant. He's found a gorgeous redhead to dine with though he keeps excusing himself as one after another of the gangsters go to the bathroom. In the loo, Bond has a string of fights, leaving the gangsters knocked out in stalls for a clean-up crew to come and finish the job. The end has a nice twist that is classic Bond.

"The Oddest Job" script by Greg Pak, art by Dean Kotz, and color by Kike J. Diaz

In the Moneypenny plot, Bond has realized that she is in trouble and picks up some tech from Q to go get here. The backstory about Bond follows him on a day off after he's killed an operative at the United Nations. He walks about Manhattan at night and runs into an old acquaintance. They talk about the old days over dinner and practice their threat analysis on customers. When they are done, Bond and his friend follow a suspicious and glamorous blonde to a karaoke bar where a twist happens. It's another interesting story.

"One Pistol, Three Silencers" script by Gail Simone, art by Eoin Marron, and color by Dearbhla Kelly

Bond gets drawn in by Felix Leiter to keep his family safe while Felix is targeted by his own CIA. Bond's assignment: watch over Felix's daughter as she goes to her high school prom. Naturally, modern kids don't have the style Bond is accustomed to and he makes his own opinions felt. The story has a much more sentimental Bond than most people are used to. It was interesting but off-brand for 007.

"Men Without a Country" script by Mark Russell, art by Robert Carey, and color by Roshan Kurichiyanil

Acknowledging the weirdness of Bond's sentimentality in the last story, Moneypenny and the kidnapper move on to another story, this time with Bond retrieving Agent 003 from an isolated and dangerous Russian prison. It's a bit more character development for Bond leading into the final chapter.

"The Hook" script by Andy Diggle, art by Luca Casalanguida, and color by Celeste Woods

Present-day Bond is on the verge of finding Moneypenny, who has been kidnapped by [REDACTED], involved in a larger plot involving corruption at MI6. There's a mole in M's branch of the secret service and Moneypenny is being set up for the fall. Things don't turn out that way, because for all of the less-than-Bondish behavior, the story still ends like a James Bond story.

The book is meant to showcase a variety of artists (writers and illustrators) in a larger story. The overall format works well but the individual stories are more or less entertaining. It is interesting to have some focus on Moneypenny, who is usually little more than a cameo in many Bond films. As a reader, I am not quite convinced by every tale, so I give it a mixed rating.

Mildly recommended--it depends how serious of a Bond fan you are, how much you can put up with the stretches to his character.

Book Review: Wonder Woman: Her Greatest Battles by G. Ruka et al.

Wonder Woman: Her Greatest Battles written by Greg Ruka, George Perez, John Byrne, Gail Simone, Geoff Johns, and Brian Azzarello with art by many talented artists

Ares, Medusa, Cheeta, Power Girl, Superman, and a host of others (including the vengeful children of Ares!) face off against Diana of Themyscira, better known as Wonder Woman. This book takes seven single issues from the past thirty years and gives readers almost literally Wonder Woman's greatest hits. The stories are epic and entertaining, showcasing not only her amazing strength and agility but also her intelligence and integrity. She is a powerful fighter and often makes tough sacrifices in order to save the mortals of Earth.

The art ranges from good to great and the writing is very well done. Highly recommended!