Moving the Story Along

First Look for January 14, 2018

Today’s issues did have something in common but it wasn’t really the focus of the issue. In Star Wars, the various child warriors each thought Yoda was not a threat and many called him a frog because of his diminuative size. In Avengers vs. X-Men, we get the usual bigotry against mutants and the fact that Captain America shows up on the island with demands to take Hope captive rather than discussions or negotiations. Both issues were good and moved their respective stories forward but neither was great. And actually, I just realized both issues were co-created by Jason Aaron.

Star Wars #27

Yoda’s Secret War, Part 2 by Jason Aaron and Salvador Larroca. Published by Marvel Comics, 2017.

Luke is still stranded in the middle of nowhere so he reads more of Kenobi’s journal about Yoda’s adventures.

The kids he found last issue first attack the Jedi Master but once he exhibits his powers, they behave more reasonably. It turns out they worship something called Stonepower which is kinda like the Force but focused on these blue stones they have.

These kids have been at war with rival tribes and Yoda has promised to help if they let him take a prisoner back to the opposing warriors. The benefit to Yoda is that he gets to go to the mountain where the blue stones come from. But on the way they’re attacked by another group of kids. These guys have a bunch of the blue rocks and they manage to subdue the Jedi since he can’t seem to control these stones. He also refuses to fight children.

So after they capture him and place him in chains made out of the blue rock they send him into a strange cave to find the Heart of the Mountain. This is exactly what he wants as he expects to find the source of the blue stone’s power there, but the great Jedi Master has never felt more helpless surrounded by all these blue stones.

You can find first looks at other issues in this title linked in my January Reading List.
I rate this issue a B.

Avengers Vs. X-Men #1

Round 1 by Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron, Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, Jonathan Hickman and John Romita Jr. Published by Marvel Comics, 2012.

The Phoenix Force is on it’s way to Earth and to get ready, Captain America and Cyclops decide its best to fight each other before it gets here.

Actually, the first we hear of it is a warning from Nova. He’s been in a nasty fight and barely makes it alive to Earth. He actually crashes out of control through a plane and the Chrysler building but he’s conscious enough when he lands to tell the Avengers the Phoenix is on its way.

Meanwhile, Cyclops is pushing Hope hard in her training. He wants to make sure she’s better prepared for the Phoenix than Jean Grey was. It’s already clear that she can tap into the Phoenix power to some degree but Scott is getting a bit fanatical about her training.

Back on the East Coast, Steve Rogers briefs the President about the situation. With the destructive potential of the Phoenix, the Avengers sent a team on what most likely is a suicide mission to slow it down or even destroy it before it gets to Earth. During the briefing they are alerted to Hope’s use of the power and know who the Phoenix’ target is now.

Seeking guidance on how to approach Cyclops, Rogers heads to the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning where Wolverine tells Cap that Summers will have an agenda when the Phoenix arrives but that he’ll do what he can to help.

When Captain America finally gets to Utopia to confront Scott, we finally learn what the agenda is. Cyclops wants to use the Phoenix for the rebirth of the Mutants. Even Magneto comments how Scott sounds like him, but it seems Summers is too obsessed to recognize it. When Cap demands that Hope be taken into “protective” custody, that’s the last straw for Scott. He points out that the Avengers only show up when they want something but never to help when mutants are being persecuted. He’s done with talking and demands Cap leave the island. What Steve doesn’t leave, he zaps Captain America with his eye beams and Rogers assembles the Avengers. The fight is on…

You can find first looks at other issues in this title linked in my January Reading List.

I rate this issue a B.