X-MEN – MESSIAH COMPLEX hardcover

X-MEN Messiah CompleX hardcover collects the 13 chapter storyline from MESSIAH COMPLEX one-shot, UNCANNY X-MEN #492-494, X-MEN #205-207, NEW X-MEN #44-46 and X-FACTOR #25-27.

Continuing after the events of Endangered Species, the X-Men have detected their first (and very powerful) new mutant in years. Making this new mutant more remarkable, is that its powers have manifested at birth, rather than at puberty.

The chase is on, as mutants and non-mutant groups are all in the race to secure this mutant baby, all with a different agenda in mind.

This is a good story, certainly fast paced, but also heavy duty; this is a X-Men book for the hardcore X-men fan. We see the re-birth of the X-Force team, and an overall restructure of all X-teams for the near-future.

In the end, time will tell on how significant the events of Messiah CompleX is for the X-Men history. Personally, I feel the story should have delivered a bit more, and certainly could have also been done within half the time.

At a cost of US$40, this is not a purchase to be taken lightly, either.

7 out of 10.

GLAMOURPUSS #1

Coming from Dave Sim, GLAMOURPUSS was never going to be a normal comic.

What is quite surprising from this first issue, is the unconventional approach Sim has taken in presenting the comic book.

Not the normal layout for a modern day comic, instead the pages are designed as if from old comic strip pin-ups and advertisement pages from the 1950s.

I like a comic that is willing to be different, push boundaries and do the unexpected.

I’ll be back for issue 2… though, I’m sure there will be many readers that wont, simply because they just don’t “get it”.

7.5 out of 10.

The Facts in the Case of the Departure of MISS FINCH

The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch is a hardcover graphic novel adaptation of a Neil Gaiman tale by Todd Klein, published by Dark Horse.

A macabre story about a group of friends that attend to an underground circus; full of the bizarre and freaky.

The highlight of the graphic novel is Michael Zulli’s unusual non-inked, yet fully colored, penciled art.

The story has a great pace about it, and rather have a moral ending, provides a “matter of fact” detail of events, reminiscent of many “weird tales” comic books from the past.

Something different, that’s for sure.

8 out of 10.