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[katara]

Title: Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Coronation #4 (Labyrinth Coronation)
Author: Simon Spurrier, Daniel Bayliss, Mattia Di Meo (Illustrator), Dan Jackson (Illustrator), Fiona Staples (Illustrator)
Format: Epub
Rating: 4.9/5
Status: Finished
Reading Date: June 12, 2018 to June 13, 2018
Book Summary: Maria finds allies willing to help guide her to the center of the Labyrinth and to her son, Jareth. But how much can she really trust them?
Book Review: This issue pretty much picks up after where the last issue has left off at.

Our favorite Goblin King is keeping watch on unsuspecting Sarah's progress. Of course when he sees that is getting a bit too close in gaining back her brother from Jareth.



He decides it is time to put a large stop to Sarah's progress and he hands over Toby to one of the goblins.



As the story returns to the past, we find that Maria has been captured by the Trawlers and is being taken in their airship to be hand delivered to the Owl King. While in her cell, her captors return with Sir Skubbin, whom she befriended when she first entered into the Labyrinth. Once the captors are gone, Maria finds bedsheets in which she begins to tie together to escape but it is Sir Skubbin that halts her when he announces that he has a skeleton key.



As the knight opens the door, they find themselves face to face with the Night Troll Septimus. He has been sent to kill Maria, whom has unseemingly become a thorn in the side of the Owl King. Even faced with this, Maria refuses to be deterred from trying to gain back her son from the Owl King. She tells the Knight to open all the doors for the other creatures that are locked away in cages. One creature, a rather living rose bush, rises up from the bottom of the ship and sends the Night Troll in the air and the ship crashing down into the waters below.

The scene changes to Lord Albert Tyton. Here we find him being visited by the Owl King in a painting. He warns Albert of the scandal that will come should his father ever learn of his marriage to Maria and the birth of his own son. He then asks Albert what he would do to keep that from happening. Albert answers he would do anything.

We return back to Maria, the knight, and the living rose bush which has now been named Tangle. They swim to shore and decide to regroup there, deciding which direction to head to next. While they are discussing this, Tangle the bush says something that causes Maria to think of her mother. She believes that there is something familiar about this bush but she is unable to put her finger on it. Maria starts to realize that the Labyrinth keeps changing because of both herself and the memories she possesses. She closes her eyes and begins walking. The three of them come around a corner where they find a gate leading to a cemetery with a giant mausoleum in the center. On the mausoleum, she finds her husband's name "Tyton" on it. Maria doesn't seem to remember this image as she has never seen this before. She knows this image doesn't come from her mind and certainly has no idea where it has come from.

Once more we find the Owl King with Albert. With the Owl King looming over him, Albert tells the Owl King of the time his father took him to the family crypt to show him where the blood line end. Of course, Albert admits this scared him as a child. This seems to please the Owl King whom tells Albert that terrifying is always a good thing and to concentrate on that.


This series continues to remain one of my absolute favorites. It has been a breath of fresh air to see how exactly Jareth came to reign on the Goblin King. His mother, Maria, has proven to be the most resourceful woman I have ever seen. She is relentless in her pursuit of gaining back the son her husband has sold. She is fearless but determined. She is not going to let anyone stop her from getting back her beloved child. She already knows that her husband is cowardly and sold them out so he is no longer a thought in her head.

Honestly a part of me is really cheering her on but I know this is not going to end well on Maria's end. I hope that she doesn't have her memories erased but is given a chance to remain nearby her son in the end.

Still if you are a fan of Jim Henson's The Labyrinth then this series is definitely one you should pick up.

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[katara]

Title: X-Men Red (2018-) #5
Author: Tom Taylor, Oscar Bazaldua (Illustrator), Mahmud Asrar (Illustrator), Travis Charest (Illustrator)
Format: Epub
Rating: 4.95/5
Status: Finished
Reading Date: June 13, 2018
Book Summary: MUTANT HATE IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH…and Jean Grey is caught right in the middle! CASSANDRA NOVA’s plan is finally revealed….but to devastating consequences. And just because JEAN GREY’s team finally knows what’s going on, doesn’t mean they can actually stop it. Someone close to Jean is about to become Nova’s latest pawn…but who? And why?
Book Review: Ever since the televised head explosion of the British Ambassador believed to have been by the newly-resurrected Jean Grey, hatred of mutants have reached an overall high. Poland has recently enacted a law to apprehend any all mutants within their country.

In a undisclosed hospital, Jean and Trinary are working to remove the Sentite lodged into the head of David Bushell, whom had killed a mutant girl Gambit was protecting. Unfortunately for David, Gambit has come to seek revenge for the girl he has killed. Gambit appears in the hospital room and both Jean and Trinary try to recruit him to their group.

It is at this point Trinary has found the switch and turned off the Sentite in David's head. Also at this time, Nightcrawler appears in the room with David's dad and the two are reunited. For the newly formed red team, there is little time to celebrate as there is another mutant problem they need to attend to.

When they reappear, they find Storm and the others waiting for them. Storm informs the group that there is a set of Polish mutants on the run. Jean replies that they will help them out and the group (along with the Sentinel colored in rainbow) take off.

Upon arrival, they find the mutants cornered near the Baltic Sea. The army is converging on the fleeing mutants. Jean and her team arrive just in time to stop the slaughter from happening. It is at this moment that Namor appears and begins to take the fleeing mutants into his bubble-like ship. Jean, whom has finished showing the soldiers what the fear the mutants were having and this seemed to back them off. All the mutants board the ship leaving the army behind.


This series really has set itself apart from its predecessors. There is a big difference in this group. Although we find Jean in place of what would be Charles. However, unlike Charles, she has pretty much become quite active in the group, seeing that her not only her group is continually protected but also rescuing those whom are being perscuted by their own country. Jean knows that there is someone out there doing this but she has no idea quite whom it is.

I like this series. It is so different and we see Jean and her team growing together. They seem to be insync with each other and this is what every team should be like. I hope this series continues on this path and that it continues to do stronger than that of the other series.

[ 207 ]

[katara]

Title: X-Men Red (2018-) Annual #1 (X-Men Red (Single Issues) Annual #1)
Author: Tom Taylor, Pascal Alixe (Illustrator), Travis Charest (Illustrator)
Format: Epub
Rating: 3.5/5
Status: Finished
Reading Date: June 13, 2018
Book Summary: After Resurrection. Before Red. Jean Grey was reborn in a world that had changed. Her friends and family had lived lives. Some had lost lives. This is Jean's story of catching up losses and triumphs. Reconnecting with old colleagues, grieving for those lots, and meeting family members she didn't know existed.
Book Review: I actually had planned to do summary of this issue but I think it best not to do so. I believe there are a bit of spoilers in there and I think it best to allow others a chance to read this one without possible going through my post and finding a spoiler.

All this issue really does is give us a glimpse into Jean Grey's life after the limited series X-Men Phoenix Resurrection and before the start of X-Men Red.

The only thing I am not impressed with is the art. It just - I don't know. I felt it seemed like was too rushed and if were the colors were done by a child. I wish I could have enjoyed this issue a lot more.

[ 208 ]

[katara]

Title: Harley Quinn (2016-) #43
Author: Christopher Sebela, Alex Sinclair (Illustrator), Gabe Eltaeb (Illustrator), Amanda Conner (Illustrator), John Timms (Illustrator), Mirka Andolfo (Illustrator)
Format: Epub
Rating: .5/5
Status: Finished
Reading Date: June 13, 2018
Book Summary: When Harley Quinn finds herself hammer-deep in a paranoid spiral, the last thing she needs is for someone to blow up her favorite bodega! Worse, the only clue she finds seems to indicate Harley herself was the actual target of the attack! What’s a girl to do when she’s pushed all her friends away just as someone decides to kill her?
Book Review: Okay.

What the hell did I just read?

This issue seemed to be a bit of a mess. I see that Harley has gone insane a bit. We see Batman and Superman with her but then we find that is nothing more than a dream...?

Whatever is going on seems to be messing up Harley big time.

Toss in Professor Pyg and The Reaper and we have something that I cannot seem to quite understand.

I am seriously on the verge of not bothering with this series anymore. The storylines are becoming a bit ridiculous and Harley seems to be out of character.