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[katara]

Title: X-Men: Grand Design (2017-2018) #1 (of 2)
Author: Ed Piskor
Format: Epub
Rating: 3.75/5
Status: Finished
Reading Date: January 12, 2018 to January 13, 2018
Book Summary: From Eisner award-winning creator Ed Piskor (Hip-Hop Family Tree) comes a thrilling new series chronicling all of X-Men history! X-MEN: GRAND DESIGN stitches together the most important moments in mutant history, creating a comprehensive narrative celebrating the X-Men's past, present, and future. The first in a trilogy, GRAND DESIGN returns to Charles Xavier's assembly of Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Iceman, Angel, and Beast! A must for fans looking to brush up on their X-Men lore or as jumping-on point for Marvel's merry mutants.
Book Review: In this new series, we find Uatu the Watcher observing the Earth and it's inhabitants. He calls over Recorder, a small little human-like robot, that lands on his shoulder. Recorder tells him that another Watcher by the name of Eternity had been a bit concerned about him.



Uatu seems to ignore the concern from the other Watcher and decides that the time has come for them to begin their story of Earth.

And he begins to weave his tale of the inhabitants of Earth, speaking of the mutants that had been part of Earth's history for as long as humans have been on the planet.



Then his tale turns to the Mutants such Namor and Howard Stark, whom had bought a powerful technology from the Xaviers.

And this, my friend, is where our story really begins to take root. We see Xavier and Storm herself as a child on the streets of Cairo. Xavier is determined to save her from Amahl Farouk, the leader of the thieves, aka The Shadow King.

After he returns to his home, Xavier begins to work on a project called Cerebro. Here he will be able to find other mutants and be able to offer them help.

And one would be in need of his help as a young child - Jean Grey.

She and her friend were playing when tragically her friend was hit by a car. Jean felt guilty for not being able to save her friend and withdrew into the recesses of her mind in trying to cope with her death.



Several light years away from Earth, a powerful deity named the Phoenix Force was scourging around galaxies in search for the one who would be able to host her powers. But in a single moment, it would change direction and head toward the galaxy that encased Earth within having felt the energy coming from one Jean Grey. It knew it had found it had the right host.

It is then the story turns to Scott Summers' family. Here we find that precisely after the Phoenix Force has felt the powerful energy of Jean Grey, the Shi'Ar have captured Christopher and Katherine Summers. Unfortunately the couple would watch their plane, a Cessna, blow up taking their kids with it. Katherine, distraught by the thought of losing her children, made the decision that she would never allow anyone to take her and the Shi'Ar responded by destroying her.



Here we continue the mutant history of others such as Angel and the arrival of Magneto's team, the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.

This was an interesting condensing version of the mutant universe of the X-Men. I love how we get a bit more fresh information upon this universe. We see things that only Uatu has been able to see from his vantage point. Here he is the observer over history. He tells you how things have been since the beginning of humanity and how mutants had become part of that history - the good and bad parts of it.

I really enjoyed this one. I am not a fan of the art though. I did like the way the pages seemed rather old as if we are looking back at older comics that have since yellowed with age. But I do suppose that with Uatu behind the scenes giving us his take, that it was made to be this way.

I am looking forward to seeing how the last issue comes out.

[ 152 ]

[katara]

Title: Harley Quinn: Be Careful What You Wish For Special Edition (2017) #1 (Harley Quinn (2016-))
Author: Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, Paul Mounts (Illustrator), Alex Sinclair (Illustrator), Chad Hardin (Illustrator)
Format: Epub
Rating: 4/5
Status: Finished
Reading Date: January 13, 2018
Book Summary: If you thought you’d seen all the mayhem Harley was capable of unleashing with the help of an all-powerful genie and infinite wishes...well, we wish you’d known better!
Book Review: This issue was actually given out during a loot crate thing. Then it was re-issued for public consumption and given some new material to go along with it.

This issue is also the last swan song for Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti.

Harley decides to spend a day at the beach. Unfortunately the water is polluted with garbage and needles, which one of them gets stuck right in the behind of Harley. This also angers her that she sets out to do some damage to the ships that she believes that are behind the polluted waters. Unfortunately for Harley, she ends up nearly drowning in the process but she also ends up getting a fabulous treasure. Once she is back on dry land, she finds a place to inspect her treasure lamp and rubs it. Out pops a genie, who grants some of the most ridiculous requests she can make.

I have to admit this was a rather interesting and fun for Harley. It was funny to see her various wishes and even more funny as hell to see a male version of her.

Unfortunately this issue was just not for me. I loved the hijinks but who doesn't when it comes to Harley? I am not what it was that made me not entirely fond of this issue. I love Harley and I love what is being done with her. She is becoming the anti-hero and not under the thumb of Joker. She is growing and becoming something she knows she can be.

I cannot wait to see more of her.