[ o88 ]

[katara]

Title: Guardians of the Galaxy/All-New X-Men: The Trial of Jean Grey (All-New X-Men #4)
Author: Brian Michael Bendis (Writer), Sara Pichelli (Artist), Stuart Immonen (Penciler), Wade Von Grawbadger (Inker), David Marquez (Artist), Marte Gracia (Colourist), Justin Ponsor (Colourist), Cory Petit (Letterer)
Format: Epub
Rating: 3.5/5
Status: Finished
Reading Date: May 17, 2017 to May 19,
2017
Book Summary: The arrival of the original X-Men in the present sent shockwaves through the Marvel Universe, but we've only seen the effects on Earth - until now! When an alien race discovers that Jean Grey, host of the destructive Phoenix Force, is back on Earth, they decide to hold her accountable for the heinous acts of Dark Phoenix!

Now it's up to the spacefaring Guardians of the Galaxy to help the all-new X-Men save Jean Grey from twisted intergalactic justice! A surprise ally from one character's past comes to help, but is that enough against the most powerful army in the Universe? You won't want to miss the first encounter between two of the biggest franchises in the Marvel Universe!

Collecting: Guardians of the Galaxy 11-13, All-New X-Men 22-24
Book Review: Real Rating: 3.5

Gladiator of the Shi'Ar Empire has learned that Jean Grey - perhaps the future host of the Phoenix Force - has come to future and decides that she has to answer for the crimes of the other Jean. He kidnaps her and takes her back to the Empire to face charges of the crimes that have yet to be committed by this Jean. The X-Men must team up with the Guardians of the Galaxy and free Jean from a fate she has not even been a part of.

This was a nice anthology read. You have to feel sorry for this Jean because she is being accused of something that hasn't quite happened to her yet and here she is being placed into the same bubble as the original Jean herself. I am sure that now that she is aware of her crimes she will do whatever is necessary to change her course in the scheme of things but one must always learn that one cannot fully escape your fate nor the Phoenix itself. So this pretty much sets up the upcoming comics (including Jean Grey's own series) dealing with the knowledge of what she has done or very may well do in the future.

I was also happy to see the Star Jammers as well as the Guardians. It was nice to have another two teams join in the prison break of Jean. I thought the scene between Scott and his father was a nice touch. It was too bad it was a bit short. I would have loved to have seen a bit more interaction between them and perhaps even a chance at some sort of reconcilation between them. The scene did nothing really to bring the two to some sort of conclusion. Who knows maybe we will see Scott and his father meet again in the future.

This series also gave hint to a relationship coming between Kitty and Peter. Of course I had been a fan between Kitty and Colossus and this could easily change. I am quite aware that things have long since moved forward from here between the two and I will eventually read the comics to them.

Overall, I enjoyed this anthology. It was nice to see everyone and yet see the scope of Jean's struggle as she tries to understand it all. She is still young and eventually she will have to figure out exactly how she is going to try to change her fate but she is also going to have to face her greatest fear - the Phoenix force itself.

[ o89 ]

[katara]

Title: Harley Quinn (2016-) #20
Author: Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, Paul Dini, Alex Sinclair (Illustrator), J. Bone (Illustrator), Joseph Linsner (Illustrator), John Timms (Illustrator), Bret Blevins (Illustrator)
Format: Epub
Rating: 4.5/5
Status: Finished
Reading Date: May 19, 2017
Book Summary: “FUTURE KILL” part one! You’ve seen her story begin to unfold in prior issues…who in the world is Bat-Fan, and why does she think Harley Quinn must die to save existence itself?! And in the backup story “Harley Loves Joker” part four, Harley’s mistakes have forced her to hide out with The Joker in a low-rent motel…unfortunately, they’ve had to bring their entire goon squad—and a pack of very poorly behaved hyenas—along!
Book Review: Real Rating: 4.5

Harley is heartbroken to find that the people that had been killed by the cannibals/vampires were only given a simple marker. Not even properly buried. She learns that the people behind the killings have either lawyered up or are not talking. So until then, there is not much no one can do.

The scene changes to Harley tending to Red Tool, who has been in the hospital recovering from his wounds. It is during this time that Harley's phone rings and she finds Harley Sinn on the other line. She has kidnapped Harley's neighbor and the "eye-candy". Harley demands to know where she is but Harley Sinn hangs up leaving Harley herself to call in a favor.

The future version (?) of Batgirl has arrived in the bat cave and promptly gets to work on locating Harley. And she does. She blasts through Harley door and accuses her of murdering Batman. A fight ensues with Harley launching Batgirl into the sky.

Although there was a bit of action, there was no solution nor back tale as to why Batgirl or even Harley Sinn were after Harley. I don't know the history between Harley and Harley Sinn but it seems to have boiled over into hatred but what caused it remains to be seen. I am not sure if the other comics ever had a story about the fallout between the two and maybe I will go into those later to see if there is a story there.

As for the Batgirl storyline, I am a bit confused as to why Batgirl has gone back to the future. I would have thought she would be looking for Batman to warn him of his impending death at Harley's hand? I would have taken that course rather than make a side trip to hunt down the killer, but that is just my take on it.

Still I am quite pleased with the direction of Harley's character. She is quite the character and it is nice to see her having some emotion toward others.