A Reader's Guide to Books and Reviews

Title: Phoenix Resurrection: The Return Of Jean Grey (2017-2018) #2 (of 5)
Author: Matt Rosenberg, Carlos Pacheco (Illustrator), Leinil Yu (Illustrator)
Format: Epub
Rating: 4.95/5
Status: Finished
Reading Date: January 6, 2018
Book Summary: A light in the darkness is not always welcome. Kitty Pryde, Old Man Logan and Cyclops are leading teams of X-Men all across the globe, chasing events connected to the Phoenix. But with teammates disappearing and familiar enemies returning, the X-Men are fighting a losing battle.
Book Review: There are strange psychic events happening all over the world but no one - not even the X-Men - know what is causing them. The teams have been split up to check out several troubling spots but each one has left them with more questions than answers.

Unbeknowst to the X-Men, Jean Grey is alive and working as a waitress in her home town. Here she has no idea who she really is or what is could be capable of. During one of her shifts at the diner, she meets a man, whom introduces himself as Erik. What Jean doesn't know is that Erik is Magneto and he seems to recognize her even if she has not recognized him. He does hint to this when she is pouring him some coffee.



As Jean heads to the back with Erik's order, she is confronted by one of her co-workers whom asks her about Erik. Jean admits he seems familiar to her. She goes on to tell her that she has not been sleeping and when she does she has nightmares. Before Jean can go further, Erik's order is ready and she heads out to the diner only to find him gone.

Over in the X-Mansion, we find the X-Men gathered around Cable whom has Cerebro's helmet on and he is trying to find something that would help them. Just when there doesn't seem to be anything, Cable picks up the feeling of pain before he is hit with something hard.

The X-Men are gathered outside the school. Headmistress Kitty Pryde lets them know that it is the Phoenix Force is that is returning and that she will be sending out teams to check out locations. The teams are dispatched but each of them come up empty. The teams return they are confront by the presence of Magneto. A fight between them ensues but when Magneto is gone, the X-Men are perplexed by the idea he ordered coffee in the middle of their fight.

Jean is surprised by Erik's return and let's him know his order was returned to the kitchen. As Jean refreshes his cup of coffee, she tells him his nose is bleeding but Erik waves it off as something that happens frequently because he had once been part of World War II. It is then Jean catches sight of the outside on fire...

This was an interesting chapter into the Phoenix resurrection saga. I cannot wait to see Jean return to full form and exactly how things will be between she and her younger half. And even more exactly how the Phoenix all fits into this. Does this mean Phoenix and Jean will remain? After all Cable said he felt pain before Cerebro short-circuited on him. One can only assume that the Phoenix feels pain from being apart from Jean?

Regardless I am quite looking forward to seeing how this story pregresses next week.

Title: Darth Vader, Vol 3: The Shu-Torun War (Star Wars Disney Canon Graphic Novel Darth Vader #3)
Author: Kieron Gillen, Salvador Larroca (Illustrations), Leinil Francis Yu (Illustrator), Kaare Andrews (Illustrator)
Format: Epub
Rating: 4.5/5
Status: Finished
Reading Date: April 18, 2017
Book Summary: The Dark Lord of the Sith's unstoppable march continues! The natives of Shu-Torun are revolting, and there's no way the Empire will stand for that. When Darth Vader is tasked with leading a military assault against the planet, could it be that his rise to glory has begun? But who will follow Vader into war? Would you? Then again, it's better to fight alongside Vader than against him. That's a lesson that the ore barons are about to learn. Collecting DARTH VADER #16-19 and ANNUAL #1.
Book Review: Real Rating: 4.5

Whatever you do never ask Vader to dance.

This comic series is set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. In this set, Vader has been tasked to bring down a rebellion in Shu-Torun. He has made Trios queen. For now, Vader will have to put aside his need to find the young Skywalker and focus the task at hand. With the twins and the evil counterparts to C-3PO and R2D2 in tow, Vader must prove himself to the Emperor but it won't be easy as espionage and double-crossing are added into the mix!

Although I have loved this series, I felt this series did little to push forth. I suppose with the writers having to insure that it stays in-canon, you really don't have much to do with Vader except send him out to squash a rebellion, install a queen, and search for Aphra, who is currently MIA. Still Vader continues to remain one of the most badass villains to ever grace the screen and comic book pages. I have relatively enjoyed this series and though I am not a fan of this one, I remain loyal to his series.