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Wolverine and the X-Men (2011)
Wolverine and the X-Men, Vol. 4
AVX tie-in! The final battle begins! The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning has seen its loyalties - and its faculty - divided by the war between the Avengers and the X-Men. But now, with the Phoenix Force corrupting Cyclops' team, Wolverine's mission becomes clear! Yet even with the fate of the Earth itself on the line, Kitty Pryde still has a school to run, and fewer teachers than ever to staff it - or protect its students. With Wolverine, Beast, Iceman, Angel and more gone, can the skeleton crew of Kitty, Doop, Toad and Husk safeguard the students when one of the Phoenix Five shows up on their doorstep? COLLECTING: Wolverine & The X-Men #14-18
112 pages, Paperback
First published December 5, 2012
7 people are currently reading
415 people want to read
About the author
Jason Aaron
2,415 books1,665 followersJason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
August 16, 2023
On first reading this was one of my all-time least liked X-Men series, on re-reading this AvX crossover, I forgot that this volume wasn't anywhere near as poor as the rest of the series with Logan taking a not too surprising stand over the Avengers vs X-Men war! Featuring Hope, Idie, Gladiator, the Shi'Ar and more feature, in a pretty good series of cross-overs with the main event. 7 out of 12, Three Stars.
2018 read
2018 read
January 26, 2018
Oh! Shit! That Ending!
Ok, ok, ok. I gotta review this quickly, so I can read the next volume. Hell of a cliffhanger you left me with there, Aaron!
AvX tie-ins are over with after this one, so hang in there, True Believers! This will conclude the whole Phoenix 5 thing and leave us with one less bald mutant telepath.
First up is a really awkward date between Kitty & Colossus, who is now one of the 5 being inhabited by the Phoenix Force.
It's the age old story of metallic boy wants to win back his ex-girlfriend.
He tries to impress her with fresh seafood, but she (stubbornly) wants him to stop taking over the world. And when the evening doesn't end well, tries to keep him from burning down her workplace after she declines his offer for a second date.
Pretty standard relationship stuff.
Hang in there, Kitty! I hear Star-Lord cleans up real nice!
Then we're back to the day-to-day stuff going on in the school. People come, people go, and romance is (once again) in the air!
You get an entire issue giving the backstory for the psychotic tweens who make up the Hellfire Club. Christ, those kids are creepy!
It's a cool issue, and worth reading, even if it doesn't advance the story going on in the volume much.
And speaking of random issues...
DOOP!
It's cute, but I already reviewed it as a single issue, so I'm not going to go into it again. However, I will say it definitely works better in a volume than it does on its own.
The last issue packed a punch!
The X-men are finally going up against the Phoenix 5, and the final showdown is awesome!
Of course, since this event has been over and done with for a while now, I already knew the outcome of the Big Battle. So that wasn't what had me doing the Gasp! thing when I got to the last page. See, while the grown-ups are fighting the Phoenix, the kids are having an End of the World dance. Broo has been working up the courage to ask Idie to the dance, but since she's been attending this strange church, Idie hasn't been acting quite like herself. When she starts hanging all over Quentin, Broo gets suspicious that something may not be right with his friend.
{insert huge amounts of suspense...possibly a drum roll?}
SOMEONE DIES!
Fade to black...
Ok, now I gotta go read the next volume and find out what the hell is going on.
Ok, ok, ok. I gotta review this quickly, so I can read the next volume. Hell of a cliffhanger you left me with there, Aaron!
AvX tie-ins are over with after this one, so hang in there, True Believers! This will conclude the whole Phoenix 5 thing and leave us with one less bald mutant telepath.
First up is a really awkward date between Kitty & Colossus, who is now one of the 5 being inhabited by the Phoenix Force.
It's the age old story of metallic boy wants to win back his ex-girlfriend.
He tries to impress her with fresh seafood, but she (stubbornly) wants him to stop taking over the world. And when the evening doesn't end well, tries to keep him from burning down her workplace after she declines his offer for a second date.
Pretty standard relationship stuff.
Hang in there, Kitty! I hear Star-Lord cleans up real nice!
Then we're back to the day-to-day stuff going on in the school. People come, people go, and romance is (once again) in the air!
You get an entire issue giving the backstory for the psychotic tweens who make up the Hellfire Club. Christ, those kids are creepy!
It's a cool issue, and worth reading, even if it doesn't advance the story going on in the volume much.
And speaking of random issues...
DOOP!
It's cute, but I already reviewed it as a single issue, so I'm not going to go into it again. However, I will say it definitely works better in a volume than it does on its own.
The last issue packed a punch!
The X-men are finally going up against the Phoenix 5, and the final showdown is awesome!
Of course, since this event has been over and done with for a while now, I already knew the outcome of the Big Battle. So that wasn't what had me doing the Gasp! thing when I got to the last page. See, while the grown-ups are fighting the Phoenix, the kids are having an End of the World dance. Broo has been working up the courage to ask Idie to the dance, but since she's been attending this strange church, Idie hasn't been acting quite like herself. When she starts hanging all over Quentin, Broo gets suspicious that something may not be right with his friend.
{insert huge amounts of suspense...possibly a drum roll?}
SOMEONE DIES!
Fade to black...
Ok, now I gotta go read the next volume and find out what the hell is going on.
June 9, 2014
Doop. Dooop. DOOOOP!
What the heck does he do at the Jean Gray School for Mutant Tweens? No one seems to know. He drinks a lot. Destroys toilets. Sleeps at the reception desk. Makes head cheese for the children. Beyond that, what?
When Wolverine started his own splinter school, he enlisted the help of the levitating green alien/mutant who speaks a language only Wolverine understands, yes, Doop.
Doop "deals" with zoning boards, fights The Nazi Bowling League (led by the Fourth Reich Intramural Bowling Champ, Fritz somebody) and has sex with anything that moves. All for the greater good.
Highlights of the Doop-tale include an Andy Warhol Film Festival, roller derby with Tigra and She-Hulk, Logan doing an impression of Cyclops (it’s messy), and a team-up with Howard the Duck with Doop armed with a gun that shoots bees.
Logan, you’re the best at what you do, but get yourself a human resources director to do the hiring. Maybe Warbird can step up.
This issue is sandwiched between the other AvsX stuff and stands out like a shaft of sunlight.
The rest of the volume is decent. It deals with AvsX peripherally, and introduces the next Wolverine/X-men plot – the billionaire, kiddie Hellfire Club. They are all evil, genius, obnoxious, psychotic Dennis the Menace’s on steroids. This stuff is only redeemed by Aaron’s humor. Apology accepted Mr. Aaron for your horrible Hulk run.
The Doop issue, illustrated by Mike Allred (X-Statix) is five stars. It’s the single funniest comic I’ve read since Hawkeye. Highly recommended. The rest, three stars. Good luck following the thin AvsX plotline.
Random notes:
The Bamfs are a lot of fun. Just don’t feed them or look them in the eyes.
Angel, the lamest X-Man ever, is now flying around naked. It’s nice that Aaron squeezed in a little time for him. Even the Beatles gave Ringo one song per album.
What the heck does he do at the Jean Gray School for Mutant Tweens? No one seems to know. He drinks a lot. Destroys toilets. Sleeps at the reception desk. Makes head cheese for the children. Beyond that, what?
When Wolverine started his own splinter school, he enlisted the help of the levitating green alien/mutant who speaks a language only Wolverine understands, yes, Doop.
Doop "deals" with zoning boards, fights The Nazi Bowling League (led by the Fourth Reich Intramural Bowling Champ, Fritz somebody) and has sex with anything that moves. All for the greater good.
Highlights of the Doop-tale include an Andy Warhol Film Festival, roller derby with Tigra and She-Hulk, Logan doing an impression of Cyclops (it’s messy), and a team-up with Howard the Duck with Doop armed with a gun that shoots bees.
Logan, you’re the best at what you do, but get yourself a human resources director to do the hiring. Maybe Warbird can step up.
This issue is sandwiched between the other AvsX stuff and stands out like a shaft of sunlight.
The rest of the volume is decent. It deals with AvsX peripherally, and introduces the next Wolverine/X-men plot – the billionaire, kiddie Hellfire Club. They are all evil, genius, obnoxious, psychotic Dennis the Menace’s on steroids. This stuff is only redeemed by Aaron’s humor. Apology accepted Mr. Aaron for your horrible Hulk run.
The Doop issue, illustrated by Mike Allred (X-Statix) is five stars. It’s the single funniest comic I’ve read since Hawkeye. Highly recommended. The rest, three stars. Good luck following the thin AvsX plotline.
Random notes:
The Bamfs are a lot of fun. Just don’t feed them or look them in the eyes.
Angel, the lamest X-Man ever, is now flying around naked. It’s nice that Aaron squeezed in a little time for him. Even the Beatles gave Ringo one song per album.
March 29, 2022
Once again tied to one of my least favourite Marvel crossovers, this volume suffers from being an event book. The plotlines outside of the AvX stuff? Pretty good. The ending? An amazing cliff-hanger. AvX? Eh. To be fair, the Marvel event sections aren't awful, it's just an oversaturated story that I, personally, am completely done with. Excited to see what happens now it's free (?) from the shackles of AvX.
August 29, 2014
More AvX. Ugh. It isn't all bad, but I would have so much rather that the event didn't have to intrude on this book. Oh well. But whatever you do, don't skip this volume! You'll miss the hilariously brilliant Doop issue. The whole thing is worth it for just that one issue. It makes me excited to see this book move past the event, so Aaron can get back to telling his own stories.
February 3, 2013
Like the last book, Volume 4 of Wolverine & the X-Men continues to be affected by the Marvel Event “Avengers Vs X-Men” but the effects are less noticeable this time around (hallelujah!). KItty goes on a date with Phoenix Colossus, the X-Men prepare for all-out war with the Phoenixes, the origin story of Kade Kilgore - pre-pubescent Black King of the Hellfire Club - is revealed, and, perhaps most significantly of all, we find out what Doop’s been up to since he joined the Jean Grey School.
While I disliked the “AVX” Event, I quite liked the issues in this book that were involved in that storyline. The Kitty and Phoenix Colossus date was interesting and gave Colossus some space to show his new character, space he wasn’t given in the main event book, while the “Eve of War” was brilliant and built up the stakes to the larger fight that takes place in the main book to the point where, even though I know what happens, I was invested in these characters and their struggle. If these issues had joined the main book I might not’ve had as many problems with the event as I did - they give flesh to the bones of the event. If anything this book shows how constrained he must have been on the writing of “Avengers Vs X-Men” because the storyline sparkles in this book while in the main book it’s dull and underwritten.
The excellent Chris Bachalo draws the Kade Kilgore issue which is coloured mostly in sepia tones, and tells the story of how a psychopath is born. While being quite a massive tonal shift from the kind of light-hearted stories often featured in this book, I thought it was an enjoyable and necessary story to tell in order for his character to become more than the caricature that he seems.
And speaking of caricatures, Doop gets his own issue (at last!). Doop is the Slimer-from-Ghostbusters-esque figure with an attitude who, until now, has been a visual gag, hanging around in the background of panels, and whose presence in the school is now addressed as we find out what he does. This is the funniest issue in the series so far and I was laughing on every page! When the Westchester School Authority plans to shut down the disruptive school Doop goes to the house of the female speaker dressed as a plumber and changes her mind; then he goes to the house of male leader dressed as a French maid and changes his mind (I refer to Doop as a “he” but its unclear what gender he is). He takes on the League of Nazi Bowlers single-handedly while joining Howard the Duck on an intergalactic mission against robo-barbarians! And Warbird finds him ridiculously attractive!
I loved the Doop issue and read it twice. I haven’t even described half of what crazy things go on in that issue but Jason Aaron shows he can do comedy as brilliantly as he does drama. Mike Allred draws the hell out of this issue too, his style perfectly matching the cheerful tone.
The book ends alongside the finale of the “AVX” storyline so hopefully this means that event is done with this series and it can resume its anarchic and creative stories without having to showcase a lot of pointless fighting between cosmically powered beings anymore. But there’s so much cool stuff going on in this book that I didn’t even mind the cut-aways to the fighting against the Phoenixes. It also sets up the villains of the next few books nicely while rearranging the cast, introducing new students and “disposing” of others, laying the groundwork for a tantalising second year at Jean Grey’s.
I loved this book, from Aaron’s masterful characterisation and background buildup to the AVX series to the darkness of the Kilgore story and the outright brilliance of the Doop issue, there’s lots to enjoy in every part of this book. All of the artists bring their A-game to Jason Aaron’s top class script to make Volume 4 one of the best in the series so far. Here’s to a second year at the most fun school in comics!
Oh, and I know you joked about “Doop Vs. Galactus” Jason Aaron, but please do that as an issue!
While I disliked the “AVX” Event, I quite liked the issues in this book that were involved in that storyline. The Kitty and Phoenix Colossus date was interesting and gave Colossus some space to show his new character, space he wasn’t given in the main event book, while the “Eve of War” was brilliant and built up the stakes to the larger fight that takes place in the main book to the point where, even though I know what happens, I was invested in these characters and their struggle. If these issues had joined the main book I might not’ve had as many problems with the event as I did - they give flesh to the bones of the event. If anything this book shows how constrained he must have been on the writing of “Avengers Vs X-Men” because the storyline sparkles in this book while in the main book it’s dull and underwritten.
The excellent Chris Bachalo draws the Kade Kilgore issue which is coloured mostly in sepia tones, and tells the story of how a psychopath is born. While being quite a massive tonal shift from the kind of light-hearted stories often featured in this book, I thought it was an enjoyable and necessary story to tell in order for his character to become more than the caricature that he seems.
And speaking of caricatures, Doop gets his own issue (at last!). Doop is the Slimer-from-Ghostbusters-esque figure with an attitude who, until now, has been a visual gag, hanging around in the background of panels, and whose presence in the school is now addressed as we find out what he does. This is the funniest issue in the series so far and I was laughing on every page! When the Westchester School Authority plans to shut down the disruptive school Doop goes to the house of the female speaker dressed as a plumber and changes her mind; then he goes to the house of male leader dressed as a French maid and changes his mind (I refer to Doop as a “he” but its unclear what gender he is). He takes on the League of Nazi Bowlers single-handedly while joining Howard the Duck on an intergalactic mission against robo-barbarians! And Warbird finds him ridiculously attractive!
I loved the Doop issue and read it twice. I haven’t even described half of what crazy things go on in that issue but Jason Aaron shows he can do comedy as brilliantly as he does drama. Mike Allred draws the hell out of this issue too, his style perfectly matching the cheerful tone.
The book ends alongside the finale of the “AVX” storyline so hopefully this means that event is done with this series and it can resume its anarchic and creative stories without having to showcase a lot of pointless fighting between cosmically powered beings anymore. But there’s so much cool stuff going on in this book that I didn’t even mind the cut-aways to the fighting against the Phoenixes. It also sets up the villains of the next few books nicely while rearranging the cast, introducing new students and “disposing” of others, laying the groundwork for a tantalising second year at Jean Grey’s.
I loved this book, from Aaron’s masterful characterisation and background buildup to the AVX series to the darkness of the Kilgore story and the outright brilliance of the Doop issue, there’s lots to enjoy in every part of this book. All of the artists bring their A-game to Jason Aaron’s top class script to make Volume 4 one of the best in the series so far. Here’s to a second year at the most fun school in comics!
Oh, and I know you joked about “Doop Vs. Galactus” Jason Aaron, but please do that as an issue!
February 2, 2013
The book starts with a pretty heavy-handed (and weirdly drawn) tete-a-tete between Kitty and Colossus. It felt almost staged - even though these are characters with a long and complex history, their discussion here felt forced and predestine - no matter what Peter did, it of course would end badly. In the middle of it all though are some pretty hilarious touches - the reason Toad likes to clean up after certain X-Men, how Kitty is handling the lack of faculty, who shows up as a substitute teacher. The main story is dislikable, but at least we see the adult X-Men come to their senses, and Kitty's barked orders in the final pages are awesome. This is finally where I agree with critics that the presence of the AvX storyline definitely detracts.
Them we get an issue of aftermath, cleanup and great character moments. Xavier vs. Quentin Quire? Toad and Ilyiana? Awesome. This is what makes a good book great, if even the moments between big scenes are this much fun.
The chapter with Kade Kilgore's origin story was a little heavy but had some pretty weird moments too. I felt like Phoenix-clops would just incinerate the Hellfire Kids, not lock them up, so everything that happened after was pointless.
This book could suck for the first issues and it would *still* be worth it just for the Doop issue at the end. I don't want to give away any surprises on this, but *damn* is it full of funny, ridiculous scenes that make me think, "Oh, well of *course* he's Wolverine's number one pick as a ringer." I would normally say that the Allreds' art doesn't do much for me, but it's actually ridiculous enough that this whole issue actually still works with that art. (Plus Allred really created Doop so we kinda have to let him play in the sandbox.)
Good book, +1 for the Toad, Xavier and Doop moments, -1 for the downer moments.
Them we get an issue of aftermath, cleanup and great character moments. Xavier vs. Quentin Quire? Toad and Ilyiana? Awesome. This is what makes a good book great, if even the moments between big scenes are this much fun.
The chapter with Kade Kilgore's origin story was a little heavy but had some pretty weird moments too. I felt like Phoenix-clops would just incinerate the Hellfire Kids, not lock them up, so everything that happened after was pointless.
This book could suck for the first issues and it would *still* be worth it just for the Doop issue at the end. I don't want to give away any surprises on this, but *damn* is it full of funny, ridiculous scenes that make me think, "Oh, well of *course* he's Wolverine's number one pick as a ringer." I would normally say that the Allreds' art doesn't do much for me, but it's actually ridiculous enough that this whole issue actually still works with that art. (Plus Allred really created Doop so we kinda have to let him play in the sandbox.)
Good book, +1 for the Toad, Xavier and Doop moments, -1 for the downer moments.
August 10, 2013
This volume covers issues 14-18; skip issue 17 altogether, or just skim it (all about Doop, kinda funny but juvenile artwork and silly story, a wasted issue for sure). In other events, the battle for Hope between the Avengers and X-Men continues, this time the Cyclops wing of the X-Men have been changed by the Phoenix force, and something is not right; leading some of the X-Men back to Wolverine and the school. Also, continues to focus on the new Hellfire Club and all their activities, as well as the student body and their development as characters. One of the students even comes up with a plan that the Avengers can use to fight the Phoenix. Issue 18 sees some of the final showdown with the Phoenix and those who've been possessed by it, and one person sacrifices themselves to defeat the Phoenix...also, one of the students dies!
Good stuff, losing a bit of momentum, but I think the A vs. X storyline is draining, and I need to read the Avengers issues to know for sure what's happening.
Decent read.
Good stuff, losing a bit of momentum, but I think the A vs. X storyline is draining, and I need to read the Avengers issues to know for sure what's happening.
Decent read.
January 10, 2017
This collection is still mostly tied-in to AvX but somehow, writer Jason Aaron was able to move most of his plot threads forward by focusing on the school with the occasional Phoenix Five appearance. Artist Jorge Molina steps in while regular artist Nick Bradshaw works with the next arc, while outgoing regular Chris Bachalo gives this collection a Kade Kilgore origin story.
Normally, this collection would get four stars for me but I bumped it up all the way to five because it contains one of my favorite comic book issues ever. Issue 17 is a Doop spotlight issue with character co-creator Michael Allred guesting. It tells the story of why Doop is such an important of the Jean Grey School. I can only say one has to read it. It is pretty good.
If not for issue 17, this would be rated less.
Normally, this collection would get four stars for me but I bumped it up all the way to five because it contains one of my favorite comic book issues ever. Issue 17 is a Doop spotlight issue with character co-creator Michael Allred guesting. It tells the story of why Doop is such an important of the Jean Grey School. I can only say one has to read it. It is pretty good.
If not for issue 17, this would be rated less.
May 26, 2014
This book deals with the AVX event that was going on at the time. To be honest that took this book from being four starts down to three. I'm so tired of reading these series only to have to stop the storyline and tie in to the current marvel event. I've been reading a ton of marvel these days and it's starting to wear on me.
The stories in here are great though. The Doop issue (with art by Mike Allread) is fantastic! The most enjoyable single issue I've read in sometime. Everything in there becomes something you want to see more of. Doop and Howard the duck fighting robots? More please. Doop and Wolverine at the strip club? I'll take a double, if you don't mind. Doop Vs. Galactus? Sadly we don't get to see that, but man it would be great! Just the simple tease of it made me smile.
This book is a good example of a writer being given lemons and making lemonade. Marvel must have made Jason Aaron write stories to tie into AVX and he turned out some good material.
The stories in here are great though. The Doop issue (with art by Mike Allread) is fantastic! The most enjoyable single issue I've read in sometime. Everything in there becomes something you want to see more of. Doop and Howard the duck fighting robots? More please. Doop and Wolverine at the strip club? I'll take a double, if you don't mind. Doop Vs. Galactus? Sadly we don't get to see that, but man it would be great! Just the simple tease of it made me smile.
This book is a good example of a writer being given lemons and making lemonade. Marvel must have made Jason Aaron write stories to tie into AVX and he turned out some good material.
December 28, 2015
Well, the Hellfire club is getting more interesting. Good backstory. And Angel is pretty wacky. But who is the stand-out, breakaway awesome character out of the whole slew?
You've got it!
It's DOOP!
I swear, he's just a tiny bit removed from Rage Guy, but not so much that I can't have a lot of fun with him. Maybe he's closer to a deep manga freak. Regardless, he's fun as hell here. Where did he come from? I'm just surprised that Wolverine is so pragmatic as to know how useful the little guy is.
I kinda want one of my own, now, vomit and all.
You've got it!
It's DOOP!
I swear, he's just a tiny bit removed from Rage Guy, but not so much that I can't have a lot of fun with him. Maybe he's closer to a deep manga freak. Regardless, he's fun as hell here. Where did he come from? I'm just surprised that Wolverine is so pragmatic as to know how useful the little guy is.
I kinda want one of my own, now, vomit and all.
March 19, 2019
didn't really care about kade kilgore's backstory - but otherwise this was good!
August 10, 2013
The fallout of AvX happens here, focusing on the senior staff moreso than the students. Each issue of the collection highlights how much things have changed among the mutant community, making this book all the better for it. We open with a Phoenix-powered Colossus taking Kitty on a date. His attempts to show benevolence and power just prove how far he is from the man Kitty once loved. Next is the arrival of some new and old faces from Utopia, as a battle plan is drawn against the Phoenix Five. As Iceman and Beast prepare for battle, Xavier shows Quentine Quire why his is called the Professor. Deathlok provides a scary guided tour, Angel graduates, and Husk continues to fall apart - literally. A one-shot dealing with the backstory of the new Hellfire Kids and Kade Kilgore is their point, serving to prove just how shallow and unlikable these kids are. Luckily we rebound with the best segment yet, as the role of Doop at the institute is finally explained. Featuring guest artists Mike and Laura Allred, the truth behind Doop is a hilarious romp. The arc finishes with a dance for the students, which is played off against the backdrop of the battle between Hope and Cyclops for he Phoenix. Neither goes particularly well, leaving readers with a a dead Xavier and possibly dead Broo. Stepping between the insanity of the AvX event, Jason Aaron manages to offer fantastic stories about trying to live in a work that wants you dead. Things fall apart for these kids and their supervisors, making great drama. Tempered with laugh-out-loud moments like the Doop issue, and the book continues to suck in new readers. Sign up for classes at Logan's school before it is too late to enroll!
June 5, 2013
This one was kind of "meh." It's the first AvX tie in that I didn't really feel added much value. There were plenty of examples of how the stories tied in together, but nothing that really pushed anything forward. What's more, they started moving away from Bachalo as the artist in this volume, which is just a huge blow to the series because the other artists can't seem to get on his level.
The highlight, actually (and coincidentally my least favorite illustrated), is the one-shot about Doop and why he's at the school. For anyone who doesn't know Doop, apparently he's served as this sort of powerhouse from basically day 1, even fighting Thor to a standstill at one point.
Otherwise, it's just bits here and there. Some of the things that stand out are the story with Idie and Broo in the final issue and how it relates to the Hellfire Club. Hopefully there will be some payoff on that conflict soon (though it doesn't really seem like it from what I hear about current issues) and there's an awesome dichotomy with the ending and how it dovetails into the end of AvX as a whole.
Other highlights include some nice moments with Husk and Toad and Kitty showing a bit of her badass side. On the whole, though, the book just didn't wow me. From what I can tell, I shouldn't expect it to for quite a while.
The highlight, actually (and coincidentally my least favorite illustrated), is the one-shot about Doop and why he's at the school. For anyone who doesn't know Doop, apparently he's served as this sort of powerhouse from basically day 1, even fighting Thor to a standstill at one point.
Otherwise, it's just bits here and there. Some of the things that stand out are the story with Idie and Broo in the final issue and how it relates to the Hellfire Club. Hopefully there will be some payoff on that conflict soon (though it doesn't really seem like it from what I hear about current issues) and there's an awesome dichotomy with the ending and how it dovetails into the end of AvX as a whole.
Other highlights include some nice moments with Husk and Toad and Kitty showing a bit of her badass side. On the whole, though, the book just didn't wow me. From what I can tell, I shouldn't expect it to for quite a while.
May 8, 2014
Another comic book collection. Surprisingly despite the title Wolverine is hardly actual in these issues. The weakest stories unfortunately were the Avengers VS. X-Men stories if for no other reason than there were no real fights between the groups chronicled in these comics. The other stories following the mini-Hellfire club while interesting was rather stupid and lame. It saddens me that from an X-Men book one headlining Wolverine who was one of my favorite characters best story was focused on the weirdness that is Doop. It was not just a Doop story it was a great and entertaining story that found a way to work in Howard the Duck! Having Howard the Duck as a co-star is sheer genius.
April 16, 2013
Why does Michael Allred continue to be allowed to draw? His art in issue #17 is just horrible.
Other than that, this book was really good. I'm not gonna pretend to be happy with some of the events that happen at the end, but it was well written and I enjoyed reading it.
Other than that, this book was really good. I'm not gonna pretend to be happy with some of the events that happen at the end, but it was well written and I enjoyed reading it.
November 25, 2013
OK so I haven't read AvX so this only half made sense to me? Which is on me. But also goddammit comic books, this is why nobody likes you, because you can't just read one! You have to read like 20 for anything to make sense!
More sassy one-liners! Fewer crossovers! These are my demands.
More sassy one-liners! Fewer crossovers! These are my demands.
August 19, 2017
Jason Aaron is still going strong with this series...even with the mandatory crossovers.
October 5, 2014
Ugh. Done with this already. This series sucks. Somehow it's supposed to be interesting to have supermacho Wolverine play Mr Feeney to a school of derivative, spin-off, son-of, non-characters tweening it up in a self-aware 21st century way while epic battles happen somewhere to the side, or off to the right. Fuck off!
I struggle to see how they even pitched this idea.
"We need an X-Men line appealing to a younger market. Main characters should be 12-18."
"Cool, will those actually be the main characters?"
"No, because we couldn't write a realistic teenager to save our life, just stick a couple of modern pop culture references in there and make everyone obnoxious or dweeby."
"Should we give them their own plotlines, character struggles?"
"Nah, fuck that. That takes work. Just give them Son-of or Kid-of names and the readers'll get the shorthand."
"So what will this series do?"
"Mostly watch Wolverine jump into or away from explosions."
"Great, it's in the bag."
What is anyone in this series FOR?! No one does anything. People sit around and talk about plotlines happening/ed in other series.
And this volume is made infinitely worse by being a tie-in to a particularly stupid crossover. Do people's motivations need to make sense? Apparently not. Bobby - dumbass character, can't stand him - leaves Cyclops because he suggests Bobby do something useful like reverse global warming's effects on the ice caps. As a man who can make ice at will, I'm surprised he never thought to do this sooner. But this is somehow so inexplicably vile a suggestion that it makes Bobby defect back to Wolverine. Not sure why. Perhaps making yourself useful is the sign of a man gone mad with power but I'm not entirely sure I see that myself. Even if this group of Phoenix-powered do-gooders are in need of working on their self-control and emotional balance in order not to be consumed by their power, how is blasting them going to help? One might even suggest it might make matters worse.
And how is it all resolved? By the Phoenix joining with Hope and restarting the mutant race. Wait, isn't that exactly what Cyclops said would happen in the beginning? So everyone could have just sat around on their hands and things would have worked exactly the same? How utterly pointless!
Serious question: Why doesn't everyone just let Rachel Grey handle the Phoenix? If everyone's so scared that Hope can't handle it, why don't they just get Rachel to do it? She was one with the Phoneix for years, if anyone could handle it, she could. Seriously, why is that not the plan?
In other reasons not to read this book, the villains are even more comicbook villain than back in the 60s. They are even more motiveless, infinitely resourceful, cackling baddies. Wayda wallow in the devolution of the genre guys.
The only good thing in this book is the stand-alone Doop story which, as ever, is nothing but good fun and funny.
I struggle to see how they even pitched this idea.
"We need an X-Men line appealing to a younger market. Main characters should be 12-18."
"Cool, will those actually be the main characters?"
"No, because we couldn't write a realistic teenager to save our life, just stick a couple of modern pop culture references in there and make everyone obnoxious or dweeby."
"Should we give them their own plotlines, character struggles?"
"Nah, fuck that. That takes work. Just give them Son-of or Kid-of names and the readers'll get the shorthand."
"So what will this series do?"
"Mostly watch Wolverine jump into or away from explosions."
"Great, it's in the bag."
What is anyone in this series FOR?! No one does anything. People sit around and talk about plotlines happening/ed in other series.
And this volume is made infinitely worse by being a tie-in to a particularly stupid crossover. Do people's motivations need to make sense? Apparently not. Bobby - dumbass character, can't stand him - leaves Cyclops because he suggests Bobby do something useful like reverse global warming's effects on the ice caps. As a man who can make ice at will, I'm surprised he never thought to do this sooner. But this is somehow so inexplicably vile a suggestion that it makes Bobby defect back to Wolverine. Not sure why. Perhaps making yourself useful is the sign of a man gone mad with power but I'm not entirely sure I see that myself. Even if this group of Phoenix-powered do-gooders are in need of working on their self-control and emotional balance in order not to be consumed by their power, how is blasting them going to help? One might even suggest it might make matters worse.
And how is it all resolved? By the Phoenix joining with Hope and restarting the mutant race. Wait, isn't that exactly what Cyclops said would happen in the beginning? So everyone could have just sat around on their hands and things would have worked exactly the same? How utterly pointless!
Serious question: Why doesn't everyone just let Rachel Grey handle the Phoenix? If everyone's so scared that Hope can't handle it, why don't they just get Rachel to do it? She was one with the Phoneix for years, if anyone could handle it, she could. Seriously, why is that not the plan?
In other reasons not to read this book, the villains are even more comicbook villain than back in the 60s. They are even more motiveless, infinitely resourceful, cackling baddies. Wayda wallow in the devolution of the genre guys.
The only good thing in this book is the stand-alone Doop story which, as ever, is nothing but good fun and funny.
July 31, 2013
Okay, this is a review for the first four volumes of the series, as a whole.
There are some great points. We see a lot of X-characters forced to behave in ways that do not come naturally to them, which is usually a good recipe for story in comics. We get a nice mix of comedy, action, and some sad moments where characters go back and forth on some heavy stuff ("Well, I was cloned from the DNA of one of the worst super villains of all time, sooooo that makes me...?). We also get a bit of Iceman as the standout character, which is nice.
The real stink on the series, for me, comes in the Avengers Vs. X-Men stuff. I just didn't dig that series, and what really sucks Doop here is that we only got 8 issues in before it took over more than I would have preferred.
Really, Wolverine is the one who has the most to settle when it comes to the whole AvX thing. The students have very little involvement. So...what the fuck? It seems a little unfair to put out a series for 8 issues, then have the next 8 issues be all about this crossover event that doesn't really do a lot for me.
Again, the end of book 4 is coming out the other side of AvX, and that's where things picked up for me again. So there seems to be potential here. I just wish it'd been allowed to grow a little before being crammed into the crossover event racket.
There are some great points. We see a lot of X-characters forced to behave in ways that do not come naturally to them, which is usually a good recipe for story in comics. We get a nice mix of comedy, action, and some sad moments where characters go back and forth on some heavy stuff ("Well, I was cloned from the DNA of one of the worst super villains of all time, sooooo that makes me...?). We also get a bit of Iceman as the standout character, which is nice.
The real stink on the series, for me, comes in the Avengers Vs. X-Men stuff. I just didn't dig that series, and what really sucks Doop here is that we only got 8 issues in before it took over more than I would have preferred.
Really, Wolverine is the one who has the most to settle when it comes to the whole AvX thing. The students have very little involvement. So...what the fuck? It seems a little unfair to put out a series for 8 issues, then have the next 8 issues be all about this crossover event that doesn't really do a lot for me.
Again, the end of book 4 is coming out the other side of AvX, and that's where things picked up for me again. So there seems to be potential here. I just wish it'd been allowed to grow a little before being crammed into the crossover event racket.
October 21, 2014
When Aaron actually tells a story instead of doing a "slice of life at the Jean Grey School" plotless issue this is a lot of fun. The art was better than I remembered although the issue on Doop (a "slice of Doop's life at the Jean Grey School" issue) was definitely not in my preferred style. This was an AVX tie in. Some nice moments. Aaron definitely plays the book for laughs far more often than I'm accustomed to with an X-book. Wonderful moment following the end of the AVX story and ending with the final shot of Broo in the last issue. Especially cool stuff there.
Its interesting because Aaron doesn't seem interested in doing a superhero book and despite Morrison's BS when he was in charge the X-Men ARE superheroes. Always have been, always will be. This series is more like "Sideways stories from the Jean Grey School for Gifted Youngsters" unless it ties into some larger story-line in the MU or the X-Men family. A very different presentation for a main stream "looks-like-superheroes" book.
Its interesting because Aaron doesn't seem interested in doing a superhero book and despite Morrison's BS when he was in charge the X-Men ARE superheroes. Always have been, always will be. This series is more like "Sideways stories from the Jean Grey School for Gifted Youngsters" unless it ties into some larger story-line in the MU or the X-Men family. A very different presentation for a main stream "looks-like-superheroes" book.
April 18, 2014
Still caught up in some big crossover, which limits the storytelling (and throws Colossus back into megalomaniacal jerk mode). Apart from a single issue centering on Doop, the rest of it focuses on the Hellfire Kids, who serve as more of a concept than any kind of tangible opposition for our heroes. They're super-rich, super-smart and super-jaded--but kids! No one knows quite how to treat them, and their appearances fall into jaded Warren Ellis-esque pseudobabble about evilly accomplishing the impossible.
The Doop issue is a bit of a departure, jokingly exploring exactly what the floating green potato does for the team. It's good enough, and the art by Mike Allred is excellent. But the humor is of the "throw everything against the wall and see what sticks" variety, and not as much stuck for me as some other people.
Read digital issues.
The Doop issue is a bit of a departure, jokingly exploring exactly what the floating green potato does for the team. It's good enough, and the art by Mike Allred is excellent. But the humor is of the "throw everything against the wall and see what sticks" variety, and not as much stuck for me as some other people.
Read digital issues.
August 29, 2014
This volume manages to add insight to the Avengers vs. X-Men event as well as takes time to keep building the world of the Jean Grey School by concentrating on the characters that aren't involved with the big Avengers vs. X-Men fracas.
Aaron's ability to focus and cultivate characters while keeping the larger group involved is commendable and keeps this series interesting.
Loved the work by Allred (one of my favorites) and the Doop solo issue. Doop forever.
Aaron's ability to focus and cultivate characters while keeping the larger group involved is commendable and keeps this series interesting.
Loved the work by Allred (one of my favorites) and the Doop solo issue. Doop forever.
July 8, 2022
This is a top notch book. We had more regarding the Avengers Vs. X-Men, and also a hilarious one shot featuring Doop (with Michael and Laura Allred art, no less.) Then we get more background information on the Hellfire Club, which is truly chilling stuff. This Hellfire Club made up of kids is really creepy, but great villains. Then we get quite an ending just as AvX wrap up. Art is nice as well. Great series as always.
November 17, 2013
Don't let the AvX graphic on the cover fool you. This stands apart from AvX enough to enjoy it without having read the main event. This is how tie-ins should work. I have to say I really liked this collection. The Doop issue alone makes it worth it. And the last issue with Broo was great too. I'm really wanting to pick up volume 5 to see what happens next.
February 20, 2014
This crossover is handled badly for a coherent trade reading experience. With this volume and the previous it is like hearing one half of a telephone conversation, and recent trades don't have as many "previously on the X-Men" recaps as they used to. The highlight of this book for me was the Mike Allred illustrated issue showing what Doop does for the school.
March 9, 2016
Another AVX tie-in volume, but this one is a distinct improvement over its predecessor. This time we get a collection of fun, diverse, barely related stories instead of fighting, fighting, fighting. The Hellfire Club story is terrific and so is the one featuring Doop with art by Michael Allred. Aaron's sense of humor is not quite at full force, at least it makes an appearance.
May 21, 2013
I can not believe they killed Broo and got rid of Kid Omega. Marvel leave the cool characters alone. But as always this book was fantastic. Wolverine and the X-men is a must read for all X-men and comic fans.
September 28, 2014
I wish I could give 3.5.
Part of A vs X so it jumps around.
Part of A vs X so it jumps around.
October 15, 2014
Crossovers are the WORST!!! I need continuity and this has none of that!
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