That means Storm has had enough

 Gladstones School for World Conquerors #2 ****1/2
Writer: Mark Andrew Smith
Artists: Armand Villavert Jr. and Carlos Carrasco
Cover Artists: Armand Villavert Jr. and Carlos Carrasco
Publisher: Image

If you love a quirky, fun book, than this one is for you. This school of villains in training is great fun, because the characters are terribly amusing. The major plot twist is that the villains of the world and the superheroes of the world have made a pact, a peace pact. Every now and then they'll put on a show for the world, but for the most part they're acquaintances of sorts. The kicker, is that these kids training to be supervillains have no idea. This is just an overall terribly amusing and light-hearted book. Great characters, interesting story, and terrific art means excellent read.

I think you're probably too young and too stupid to be scared.

Generation Hope #7 ***
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Salvador Espin
Cover Artist: Salvador Espin and Morry Hollowell
Publisher: Marvel

I can't exactly put into words what it is about this series that isn't grabbing onto me. I think a large part is that I find these characters to be tremendously boring. The lights, who I still find to be highly unoriginal, are just so cutoff from the rest of the X-Men, both emotionally and physically. Normally I wouldn't really have a problem with a team that works independently, but let's get one thing straight, this gang is a team of kids. I don't understand what direction the writers are trying to go with this series, but I'm still hoping that we get an inkling of that sometime soon.

I'll Kill You

Daken: Dark Wolverine #8 ****
Writers: Daniel Way and Marjorie Liu
Artists: Marco Checcetto and Frank D'armata
Cover Artist: Marte Gracia
Publisher: Marvel

From the moment I first learned about Daken, I knew he couldn't be trusted. X-23 and Gambit have made it to Madripoor where Daken has become a powerful overlord. X-23 and Daken fought it out in the first part, but seem to come up with a truce in this issue. Unfortunately for Laura and Gambit, Daken is double corssng them. This crossover event has been really good. The writing has been great, smart, interesting. And the art has been fantastic. With four more parts to the story, I'm sure we'll see a couple more twists and turns which will probably be just as entertaining.

And those feelings are terror and Nausea

Avengers Children's Crusade Young Avengers #1 ****
Writer: Allan Heinberg
Artist: Alan Davis
Cover Artist: Alan Davis
Publisher: Marvel

Allan Heinberg is absolutely brilliant. He writes these kids like no one else. And I don't mean that because no one has really written them. Quite the contrary. Heinberg has been able to create such a wonderful story for these guys. The flashback story was absolutely hilarious. It was fun, it was a great friendship story, and it throws an interesting twist into this whole story. The art, well that's really another story. For the main story we've been getting some stunning artwork and unfortunately, that was not the case. It's been a while since we've got the actual series and while this issue was nice, I want some more of the other stuff.

And I will be a dynamo to power the change

Generation Hope #4 ****
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Salva Espin and Scott Koblish
Cover Artist: Olivier Coipel
Publisher: Marvel

This was probably my favorite issue of the series (much like another issue I'm reviewing.) After their prolonged visit to Japan, and all the trouble that happened there, the new mutants finally make their way to Utopia. In the form of a test, we are finally given a definitive description of Earth's newest mutant's powers. Which, now that they've been laid out to us, their power sets look even more like previous mutants, that is, except for Kenji. Kenji, in his natural state, still feels a bit off, so it will be interesting how he will be able to integrate into life on Utopia. Hope, now back from her journeys, is beginning to settle in and has even begun a budding romance, which is great for the development of her character. Although there was very little action, I thought this issue feels like the actual beginning of this series, even though it's actually the end of the first arc. Hope and the lights are now back with the rest of the Mutants, and they're all in as natural a state as they can be, the rest has yet to come.

I'm back, Billy. And I'm here to protect you

Avengers: Children's Crusade #4 ****1/2
Writer: Allan Heinberg
Artist(s): Jim Cheung and Mark Morales
Cover Artist(s): Jim Cheung, Justin Ponsor, and Art Adams
Publisher: Marvel

Another absolutely fantastic issue by this great creative team. In the last issue Wiccan found himself in the deadly grasp of the powerful Doom. After a brief battle, Doom overpowers Wiccan and relieves him of his powers. Meanwhile, the rest of the Young Avengers and team Maximoff rush to the aide of the young Warlock. Before they reach Doom's kingdom, the Avengers arrive just in time to screw things up. Wanda rescues Wiccan from his prison and the two of them leave the castle just in time to witness a war going on. I thought that this issue was just great and the reveal at the end was all kinds of exciting. The interaction between Wiccan and his surroundings was done well. In fact, I think Heinberg is doing a great job capturing the personalities of all the characters. The art in the issue is spectacular, to say the least. And other than the minor glitches in Marvel continuity I think this series has been fantastic.

I was held back once. First grade. Terrible Trauma.

So I missed out on two weeks of reviews, but since I had no reviews for the blog last week, I figured today would be a great day to catch up.

American Vampire #9 *****
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Rafael Albuquerque and Mateus Santolouco
Cover Artist: Rafael Albuquerque
Publisher: Vertigo

The end of the second arc comes to a fantastic end in this issue. The vampire killers, the vampires, and Skinner Sweet all make their move and in the end it is Cashel who is left to pick up the pieces. By this point it is clear that Snyder is able to create a vampire story that is not only fresh, but exciting from issue to issue. The league of vampires going around killing off other vampire cults is a nice juxtaposition to the vampire killers who are going around killing all vampires. Skinner Sweet reveals himself to be the ultimate badass in this issue, breaking his deal with the vampire league, then double crossing Cashel's father, and finally reaping his revenge on Cashel's unborn child. This story is consistently intelligent, fresh, and exciting. The art continues to be outstanding on Rafael Albuquerque's part as well as newcomer Mateus Santolouco. Essentially, this is a must read book.  

Teon has just urinated on my feet!

Generation #1 ***1/2
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Salva Espin
Cover Artist: Olivier Coipel
Publisher: Marvel

Hope, Rogue, and four of Earth's newest mutants make their way to collect the fifth light in the launch of this new series. Logan and Scott encounters the final mutant in Japan, who also happens to be the most interesting new mutant, and unfortunately he has undergone a tragic mutation. After meeting these mutants in Uncanny X-Men, I didn't have the greatest impression, considering they're all basically copies of previous mutants. However, they're beginning to feel a bit more human and slightly more likeable. What this does great is show Hope as the leader she was born to be. She appears to have a great deal of influence and control over these new lights. Unfortunately, she's also a bit reckless. While she has been raised by one of the greatest soldiers of all time, she does not take orders well, at all. Along those same lines, as a result of her solitary childhood, she's not particularly a team player, which will most likely cause problems with her role as an X-Man and her role as a leader. The art stands out, in light of some of the other art in the other X-books, as being done exceptionally well. Overall, this was a pretty good start to this new series.

Check out my DC reviews at ComicAttack.net!