Ian Gregory - COMICSXF https://comicsxf.com The comics criticism you crave Tue, 05 Sep 2023 14:57:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://i0.wp.com/comicsxf.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/cropped-orange-favicon-2.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Ian Gregory - COMICSXF https://comicsxf.com 32 32 107498702 ComicsXF takes the Marvel Multiverse RPG Core Rulebook for a test roll https://comicsxf.com/2023/09/05/marvel-multiverse-rpg-roll-2/ Tue, 05 Sep 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=46480 In 2022, a crack team of ComicsXF writers and TTRPG lovers came together to try out the Marvel Multiverse RPG playtest — and found it wanting. Now, the members of the ComicsXF staff come together once more to play the finalized version of the game. Has it improved from playtest, gotten immeasurably worse or ended...

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]]> 46480 Cable & Bishop play Bad Cop/Bad Cop in Children of the Vault #1 https://comicsxf.com/2023/08/09/cable-bishop-play-bad-cop-bad-cop-in-children-of-the-vault-1/ Wed, 09 Aug 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=46218 Sealed in a dream-state by Krakoan technology, the fearsomely powerful Children of the Vault have been dormant in Chile while thinking they’ve taken over the world. Now Krakoa belongs to the past. Are the Children the future? Not if Cable and Bishop have much to say about it in Children of the Vault #1, written...

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]]> 46218 2 Pieces of [Poop Emoji], Plus Traveling to Mars and The Gimmick https://comicsxf.com/2023/06/13/2-pieces-of-poop-emoji-plus-traveling-to-mars-and-the-gimmick/ Tue, 13 Jun 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=45701 Ron DeSantis is a pile of human excrement molded into human form and stuffed into a suit. The comic about him isn’t so great either. Political Power: Ron DeSantis is written by Michael Frizell, drawn and colored by Martin Gimenez, lettered by Benjamin Gilbert and published by TidalWave Productions. Roy remains the center of the...

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]]> 45701 Will Found the Softcore on ComiXology (Also: Traveling to Mars, Where Monsters Lie, Paklis) https://comicsxf.com/2023/06/02/will-found-the-softcore-on-comixology-also-traveling-to-mars-where-monsters-lie-paklis/ Fri, 02 Jun 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=45606 Some tiny boys go to the beach, and some big girls are mean to them. Yup, softcore porn has come to ComiXology in Cousins #1 by Tonara Cluric. Roy is still drifting toward the red planet, accompanied only by memories and his faithful rovers and otherwise alone. Or is he? Traveling to Mars #5 is...

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]]> 45606 The Eisners Got at Least One Nomination Right (Plus a Couple Other Books) https://comicsxf.com/2023/05/22/the-eisners-got-at-least-one-nomination-right-plus-a-couple-other-books/ Mon, 22 May 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=45520 Roy is drifting closer to the Red Planet and his ultimate fate, but he still finds himself tied to his past in Traveling to Mars #4, written by Mark Russell, drawn by Roberto “Dakar” Meli, colored by Chiara Di Francia, lettered by Mattia Gentili and published by Ablaze. If you can’t stand the heat in...

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]]> 45520 Yup, We’re Still Reading Stuff from Months Ago (including Local Man and Where Monsters Lie) https://comicsxf.com/2023/04/21/yup-were-still-reading-stuff-from-months-ago-including-local-man-and-where-monsters-lie/ Fri, 21 Apr 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=45291 One long and bloody night is finally at its end in Rogues’ Gallery #4, with story by Hannah Rose May and Declan Shalvey, written by May, drawn by Justin Mason, colored by Triona Farrell, lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou and published by Image. Roy is getting closer to his final destination. And perhaps nearer to a...

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]]> 45291 Marauders #12 ends the series on a triumphant note! https://comicsxf.com/2023/03/22/marauders-12-ends-the-series-on-a-triumphant-note/ Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=45089 Our Marauders have been to space, welcomed a mutant from 2099, taken a deep dive into the Proterozoic proto-ocean, rescued a couple of ancient mutants from yet another genocide, and wondered who made a mysterious puzzle box. Now their series is ending. Will their questions get answered in Marauders #12, written by Steve Orlando, drawn...

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]]> 45089 Brimstone Love is back and so are character faces in Marauders #11! https://comicsxf.com/2023/02/15/brimstone-love-is-back-and-so-are-character-faces-in-marauders-11/ Wed, 15 Feb 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=44735 Our team has come back from the distant past, bringing three plucky survivors from the long-ago, now-defunct mutant society Threshold. Will Captain Kate Pryde start a time loop with their help? Also, remember that jerk Brimstone Love? He’s back too, in Marauders #11, written by Steve Orlando, art by Eleanora Carlini, colors by Matt Milla,...

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]]> 44735 Ron Becomes a Papa (Maybe), and We Grapple with Pratfalls in Spy Superb https://comicsxf.com/2023/02/08/ron-becomes-a-papa-maybe-and-we-grapple-with-pratfalls-in-spy-superb/ Wed, 08 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=44696 Ron Livingston gets farther away from everyone and everything he’s ever known and closer to the end in Traveling to Mars #2, written by Mark Russell, drawn by Roberto “Dakar” Meli, colored by Chiara di Francia, lettered by Mattia Gentili and published by Ablaze. Actress Maisie Wade confronts the murderous fans who’ve invaded her home...

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]]> 44696 A Sad, Lonely Trip to Mars (and Other Scary and/or Violent Stuff) https://comicsxf.com/2023/01/23/a-sad-lonely-trip-to-mars-and-other-scary-and-or-violent-stuff/ Mon, 23 Jan 2023 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=44557 In a house by the shore, there’s something secret going on. Something unholy. Something for … the Stuff of Nightmares #1, written by R.L. Stine, drawn by A.L. Kaplan, colored by Roman Titov, lettered by Jim Campbell and published by BOOM Studios. Roy Livingston has never been important. Until now. And all he has to...

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]]> 44557 Marauders #10 Tests the Team’s Time Travel Travails! https://comicsxf.com/2023/01/06/marauders-10-tests-the-teams-time-travel-travails/ Fri, 06 Jan 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=44426 Billions of years in the past, a culture of proto-mutants and proto-humans faces extinction-level threats from the Unbreathing (an anaerobic civilization), from Arkea (wannabe world-dominating microorganisms), from Sublime (wannabe world-dominating microorganisms created by Grant Morrison), and from Stryfe (that guy). Can our chrono-journeying mutants save everyone? Or anyone? Time to find out in Marauders #10,...

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]]> 44426 Let’s Get AfterShook in Fear of a Red Planet https://comicsxf.com/2022/12/12/lets-get-aftershook-in-fear-of-a-red-planet/ Mon, 12 Dec 2022 19:23:50 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=44154 By Ian Gregory and Will Nevin No one can hear you scream about labor rights in space. Fear of a Red Planet #1 is written by Mark Sable, drawn and colored by Andrea Olimpieri, lettered by Dave Sharpe and published by AfterShock. Ted Walsh wants one more run on top. And he’ll get it by...

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]]> 44154 Marauders #9 Brings the 90s to Prehistory! https://comicsxf.com/2022/12/07/marauders-9-brings-the-90s-to-prehistory/ Wed, 07 Dec 2022 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=44124 Inconceivably long ago in the history of the Earth, the mutants (Enriched) and the non-mutant humans (Enshrined) of the community called Threshhold battle the anaerobes of the Unbreathing and the genocidal megabacteria Arkaea and Sublime. Our Marauders have come, in sealed suits, from the future to save their kin. Some will die, some will live,...

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]]> 44124 We Become the First People to Read Comixology Original Books (We Think) https://comicsxf.com/2022/12/02/we-become-the-first-people-to-read-comixology-original-books-we-think/ Fri, 02 Dec 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=44075 In an all-too-plausible future, the nation is split. The old country is dead. This is New America #1, written by Curt Pires, drawn by Luca Casalanguida, colored by Mark Dale, lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou and published by Comixology Originals. It’s a ballad of love, murder, sketchy flyboys and at least one creepy robot in Barnstormers...

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]]> 44075 Who Asked for Kevin Smith Comics? (And Blink #3 and Hell to Pay #1) https://comicsxf.com/2022/11/17/who-asked-for-kevin-smith-comics-and-blink-3-and-hell-to-pay-1/ Thu, 17 Nov 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=43906 By Ian Gregory and Will Nevin Wren learns more about her past … and what she might have to do in the future … in Blink #3, written by Christopher Sebela, drawn by Hayden Sherman, colored by Nick Filardi, lettered by Frank Cvetkovic and published by Oni Press. Just when you think your job of...

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]]> 43906 Marauders #8 goes once more into the breach! https://comicsxf.com/2022/11/10/marauders-8-goes-once-more-into-the-breach-for-good-ill/ Thu, 10 Nov 2022 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=43842 Stephanie – quick! It’s Ian! I’ve traveled back in time billions of years to warn you that a rogue microorganism has infected the creatures you refer to as “pets”! We can only save your beloved cats and dogs if we first review Marauders #8, written by Steve Orlando and illustrated by Eleonora Carlini, colors by...

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]]> 43842 A Trio of Deuces in Blink, Patrick Todd and A Calculated Man https://comicsxf.com/2022/11/08/a-trio-of-deuces-in-blink-patrick-todd-and-a-calculated-man/ Tue, 08 Nov 2022 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=43817 We go deeper into the prison of our own construction and get a sense of what first opened the door in Blink #2, written by Christopher Sebela, drawn by Hayden Sherman, colored by Nick Filardi, lettered by Frank Cvetkovic and published by Oni Press. He’s not right, certainly, but what’s to blame? The bodies piling...

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]]> 43817 A Spooktacular Leftover Horror Anthology Roundup for Your Halloween Reading Pleasure https://comicsxf.com/2022/10/27/a-spooktacular-leftover-horror-anthology-roundup-for-your-halloween-reading-pleasure/ Thu, 27 Oct 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=43608 When the dang sign says “take one,” don’t be a dick. Also, don’t hire a demon for your kid’s birthday party entertainment in Creepshow #1. “Take One” is written and drawn by Chris Burnham, colored by Adriano Lucas and lettered by Pat Brosseau. “Shingo” is written by Paul Dini and Stephen Langford, drawn by John...

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]]> 43608 Fightin’ with Saturday Morning Turtles and Red Sonja and Someone Who Likes Candy (or Something) https://comicsxf.com/2022/10/20/fightin-with-saturday-morning-turtles-and-red-sonja-and-someone-who-likes-candy-or-something/ Thu, 20 Oct 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=43487 The original(ish) heroes in a half shell (Turtle power!) are back in all of their cartoonish glory. In virtual reality. For real. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #1 is written by Erik Burnham, drawn by Tim Lattie, colored by Sarah Myer, lettered by Shawn Lee and published by IDW. Who taught her how...

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]]> 43487 Straight Outta Weekly Shonen Jump, the Leftovers Crew Does Manga https://comicsxf.com/2022/10/07/straight-outta-weekly-shonen-jump-the-leftovers-crew-does-manga/ Fri, 07 Oct 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=43349 Dating is hard in modern society, and it’s even harder when you’re a killer for hire. Find out if the legendary poison assassin can find a bride or if he’ll die trying in MARRIAGETOXIN #1, written by Joumyaku, illustrated by Mizuki Yoda and localized by Medibang Inc. Life’s hard out in the frozen wastes, especially...

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]]> 43349 Marauders #7 Sails Forward by Looking to the (Deep) Past! https://comicsxf.com/2022/10/05/marauders-7-sails-forward-by-looking-to-the-deep-past/ Wed, 05 Oct 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=43287 Want to meet yet more never-before-seen mutants from a past that looks like a space opera future? Captain Pryde’s crew has you covered in Marauders #7, written by Steve Orlando, drawn by Eleanora Carlini, colored by Rachelle Rosenberg and Matt Milla, lettered by VC’s Ariana Maher. Stephanie Burt: Hi, Ian! Looks like we’ve got plots...

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]]> 43287 We Make Heart Eyes at … Heart Eyes (and Justice Warriors and Immortal Red Sonja) https://comicsxf.com/2022/09/29/we-make-heart-eyes-at-heart-eyes-and-justice-warriors-and-immortal-red-sonja/ Thu, 29 Sep 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=43194 The world may be over, and monsters might loom over the horizon, but don’t feel so bad: You’ve got a new girl in your life. There’s nothing ominous about that in Heart Eyes #1, written by Dennis Hopeless, drawn by Victor Ibáñez, colored by Addison Duke, lettered by Simon Bowland and published by Vault. The...

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]]> 43194 Killin’ for Fun (and Revenge and Profit) in Rogues’ Gallery, Absolution and Above Snakes https://comicsxf.com/2022/09/12/killin-for-fun-and-revenge-and-profit-in-rogues-gallery-absolution-and-above-snakes/ Mon, 12 Sep 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=42826 If you go after the queen of TV superheroes, you’d better not miss. Or you could think about sucking less as a person. Your choice, really, in Rogues’ Gallery #1, written by Hannah Rose May, with story by May and Declan Shalvey, drawn by Justin Mason, colored by Triona Farrell, lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou and...

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]]> 42826 An A.X.E to the Head Prompts Introspection in Marauders #6 https://comicsxf.com/2022/09/08/an-a-x-e-to-the-head-prompts-introspection-in-marauders-6/ Thu, 08 Sep 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=42749 The Marauders are back from space and ready to do their part to save the Earth in the editorially-mandated crossover event called “Judgment Day”, but first it’s time for…. a peek inside each one’s dreams in Marauders #6, written by Steve Orlando, drawn by Andrea Broccardo, colors by Matt Milla, letters by VC’s Ariana Maher....

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]]> 42749 007 Looks Impressive While Ogres and Old Ladies Fight https://comicsxf.com/2022/08/30/007-looks-impressive-while-ogres-and-old-ladies-fight/ Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.comicsxf.com/?p=42663 How many old flames can one British super spy have? And why do they all have to die? The answer may lie in 007 #1, written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, drawn by Marco Finnegan, colored by Dearbhla Kelly, lettered by Jeff Eckleberry and published by Dynamite. Thank you for being a friend. Travel down the...

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