Comic Book Reviews (Week June 5, 2024): X-Men Issue 35, MMPR: The Return Issue 4, and More!

Welcome to my comic book reviews for this week (June 5, 2024). I will be covering My Adventures with Superman issue 1, X-Men issue 35, Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace issue 4, and more.

Let’s begin by talking about My Adventures with Superman issue 1 by writer Josie Campbell with art by Pablo M. Collar (Nick Filardi on colors). Picking up after the events of the animated My Adventures with Superman season one, the story opened with Clark sharing his opinions about falling snow and how it’s able to make adults feel like kids again. The narrative began calmly enough, with Lois and Jimmy trying to plan the best Christmas weekend for Clark because it’s his first time spending the holidays away from the farm. However, you know trouble will come knocking soon.

Campbell impressively captured the trio’s dynamics from the animated series as they traveled through the sewers in pursuit of a mysterious threat. It felt like I was reading storyboards for an animated episode. There’s a bunch of comedy, action, and conflicted emotions as the story progressed, with Clark getting to face off against an opponent that might not be the type of threat he had imagined. The appearance of Robert DuBois aka Bloodsport was a pleasant surprise.

I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how the trio will manage to help the pleading character and if the developments occurring in this particular comic book will somehow link the second season of the My Adventures with Superman animated series.

Does it have obvious queer characters? No.

Recommendation: Pick it up!

X-Men Issue 35

From writers Gerry Duggan, Al Ewing, and Kieron Gillen, X-Men issue 35 or Uncanny X-Men issue 700 marked the end of the First Krakoan Age. Emphasis on the word “First” because it’s clear that Marvel Comics isn’t ready to completely let go of the mutant utopia. And you know what? I’m okay with said decision.

While it didn’t go over well for everyone, a large portion of the X-Men fandom continue to be fans of the Krakoan Age. If the upcoming “From the Ashes… A New Beginning” era relaunch fails to bring in the results that are expected by the X-Office, they can always rely on ushering in the second Krakoan Age for a quick pivot and to possibly boost sales.

Most of the issue was about Apocalypse disliking the way the version of Krakoa from the White Hot Room had evolved. He wanted to change it for the “better” and that meant beating down anyone who stood in his way. Even though there were a bunch of X-Men that Apocalypse faced (making for some cool action sequences), I liked how the creative team made sure not to have him fight Jean Grey and Storm. I mean, having Apocalypse fight two of the strongest mutants to exist would have impacted the entire planet and the current issue didn’t have time for that.

The narrative took a moment to allow the X-Men (and the readers, in a way) to say goodbye to the Krakoan dream. Krakoa still existed in the Marvel Comics Universe lore. And maybe one day it will return. But for now, the X-Men needed to look toward the near future where they apparently go back to living alongside humans. And we all know that has never resulted in anything good.

As for my thoughts on the drama caused by the comic book cover, you can read more about it here.

Does it have obvious queer characters? Yes.

Recommendation: Pick it up!

Ms. Marvel Mutant Menace Issue 4

From co-writers Iman Vellani and Sabir Pirzada, the finale of Ms. Marvel Mutant Menace was about Kamala Khan accepting her duality as a mutant and an Inhuman. Ever since the live-action Ms. Marvel series gave Kamala light-based powers, the fandom’s been waiting for said ability to manifest in her comic book version. And it finally did.

Apparently, the purple-ish light-based powers stemmed from Kamala’s mutation while her body-morphing powers were from her Inhuman side. Frankly, I wanted her powers to be linked to the dreamscape (due to her creativity and having occasional visions), but oh well. I guess Marvel Comics needed synergy between the comic and live-action mediums.

I liked the conversation Kamala had with her mother. However, while well-written, their interaction didn’t hold the type of impact it could have (for me) because Kamala wasn’t actually talking to her real mother. It was all in her head via one of her visions as her body (that was recently resurrected by the X-Men) got reintroduced to the Terrigen Mist.

With more and more people turning against Ms. Marvel and the anti-mutant sentiment still existing, I’m looking forward to seeing how she will continue to handle herself while being an X-Man.

My only gripe would be how Kamala didn’t share a supportive interaction with her real mother after waking up and only seemed to have Bruno on her side. Such a creative decision bugged me after seeing the vision-version of Kamala’s mother being incredibly supportive.

Does it have obvious queer characters? Yes.

Recommendation: Pick it up.

Mighty Morphin Powers: The Return Issue 4

Co-written by Amy Jo Johnson and Matt Hotson, the finale of MMPR: The Return took a turn I had hoped it wouldn’t go down. Yes, the signs were there, but I really thought the creative team would decide to take a more mature route with the narrative, considering the nature of the current story related to having the characters deal with death and loss. But nopes. Johnson and Hotson decided to go the “happily ever after” route, ended the miniseries on a cliffhanger setting up a sequel, and made me roll my eyes at the blatant capitalistic nature of the final issue.

So, yeah, after reading through the first three chapters and seeing the Power Rangers losing quite a lot during the flashbacks, the current timeline had Tommy Oliver released from the Morphin Grid even though Selena was trying to get Rita Repulsa back.

Frankly, I would have been okay with Tommy making an appearance as some type of energy ghost linked to the Morphin Grid, meaning that he would need to go back to the grid or move on to the next plane after revealing the truth about saving Selena and sharing some words with Kimberly and their daughter Olivia.

Sigh!

For me, a somewhat mature MMPR book turned very childish due to how things panned out. There’s literally a twenty-something-year-old Tommy hanging around with his young adult daughter and much older Kim for some reason.

Also, the Red Ranger’s vigilante behavior wasn’t addressed, even though that was the reason Billy and Zack reached out to Kimberly in the first place.

Again… Sigh! 

Does it have obvious queer characters? No.

Recommendation: Up to you.

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Which comic books did you read this week? Did you enjoy X-Men issue 35?

Let us know.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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