Moon Knight #1, Magneto #1, Wolverine and the X-Men #1

Moon Knight #1
Deanpool was pretty excited about this Marvel Now debut. Moon Knight isn't one of the most exciting Marvel characters based off first impression, but he has his own appeal.

The intro starts off with a lot of dialogue about Moon Knight. Things like rumors and legends, a lot of hearsay of other people recounting stories of the Moon Knight. One theory was that Moon Knight had Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) previously known as multiple personality disorder. Some talk about his origin with the Egyptian god, Khonshu.

When we finally see Moon Knight arriving at the crime scene, we see a completely different, redone Moon Knight. No more cape and hood type thing, which means he gave up the whole ghostly look he had going on in earlier, more popular versions of Moon Knight. Instead we see him in an all white suit (like "suit and tie" type of suit) with a mask covering his whole face and the crescent moon symbol between the eyes. The whole comic sets their noir, detective tone right from the start. The artwork is very gritty and dark, showing a very distinct contrast to Moon Knight's all white appearance. The storytelling even has a very detective-like feel to it. Murder scene, mysterious killer, Moon Knight carefully deducing clues that no one else can catch. Lots of similarities to DC's Detective Comics, only Batman has a much bigger fan base and more interesting foes. Nonetheless, we dive into this murder mystery. Someone is going around slashing people, literally taking chunks and pieces of innocent people and leaving the rest. Moon Knight tracks down the killer into the sewers and discovers it's an ex-SHIELD agent who was injured in action. The agent cured himself using illegal supplies that doctors wouldn't sue on him and as a result, it turned him into a hideous looking monster. The agent would track down fit people, kill them and essentially take pieces of them and paste them into his own body using exotic medical machinery.

Much like the ancient Egyptian god, Khonshu, Moon Knight stands up for the overnight travelers. He accuses the SHIELD agent of harming innocent overnight travelers. In a fast sequence of events of what originally appeared like simple dialogue between the two characters, Moon Knight reveals that during the conversation he took out one of the agent's machines (that he was pretty dependent on) without him noticing with his moon-shaped disc. It's very similar again to Batman and his Batarangs. Moon Knight even uses them to deflect the agent's bullets. Soon after, Moon Knight finished the fight with ease. Not a bad first issue if you can make yourself look as badass as Batman, and do it in an all-white suit.

The issue then flashes back to before the events of the issue. It appears to be some sort of retreat where Moon Knight's alter ego is trying to get help for his DID. One of the therapists there reveals that Khonshu had four aspects: pathfinder, embracer, defender, and watcher of overnight travelers. And even a vengeful secret aspect, "the one who lives on hearts." This doctor/therapist/whoever then tells him that Khonshu has chosen him to bring vengeance to those who would harm travelers by night and that his brain cycles through the four aspects, struggling to define them. This is meant to explain the different identities. It's his brain trying to find a way to define the different aspects of Khonshu by taking on multiple personalities. Yup it pretty much ends here, in what was a very confusing ending. The doctor lady looked creepy, can't tell if it's in the man's head or actually happening. All we know is that eventually he goes to New York, where this issue starts the readers off.

This is a much grittier Moon Knight, and came out on his first issue more badass than ever. Deanpool likes the storytelling and is very interested in learning more about this version of the character. Maybe a hero spotlight soon? 8.5/10 DIDs.

Magneto #1
Deanpool loves stories/series where bad guys don't believe they are bad guys, especially when it's done right. DC's New 52 Green Lantern Vol. 1 where Sinestro was a Green Lantern again; DC's Forever Evil event; the new Loki: Agent of Asgard ongoing series. Okay those are the only two examples Deanpool can come up with at the moment, but he's hopeful that this series can be added to this list!

We start off with usual Magneto mythos. We hear from a witness that he took the metal fillings from a person's mouth and then impaled him with a street pole in the middle of the street. In a motel room, Magneto has a little monologue about the different names he's went by: Max, Erik, Magnus, Magneto. He ends it claiming all his actions are in the name of mutants, in which it goes to a flashback of him actually doing those actions claimed in the beginning. Yes, he impaled the man. He was a doctor who contributed to anti-mutant organizations. Those first couple pages set the tone for this series' direction. Magneto is going on a one-man mission to defend and protect mutants, and he will not hold back from killing. The creative team is sticking to Magento's strengths while still giving us a character we can root for. Punisher doesn't work much differently if you think about it. Also, it takes a while seeing Magneto look almost like a comic version of Jason Statham without the helmet in this series. Bald head, looks like he has a pretty imposing figure, and is typically dressed in all black. Guess he went with the Prof. Xavier look.


Anyways, as the issue goes on, it follows his actions in this motel room. He mentions that he's been hiding out in there, paying off maids to keep quiet about his presence, that kind of stuff. He also brings up how he's rarely recognized without his iconic helmet. In his motel room, Magneto has a set up of newspaper clippings and a map all connecting to deaths of mutants. He admits his resources are limited, but still manages to stay one step ahead of groups like SHIELD. Again, it's quite clear Magneto is on a vengeance for innocent mutants. He figures out his next killer, someone who murdered three mutants. But unexpectedly, the killer turned himself over to the authorities, complicating Magneto's mission a little.

When he enters the police station, the artist shows the metal items around him as Magneto identifies them. Again, Magneto's monologue talks about the different personas he has taken up: terrorist, savior, hero, villain. But instead of being stealthy, he uses his powers in the middle of the station, using all the metal in the room to form a new iconic Magneto helmet for himself. When he apporaches the killer in his cell for murdering those mutants, the man actually turns out to be a hybrid version of the Omega Sentinels! Cybernetics fused with human muscle and one, developed with a single purpose: hunt and destory. To kill mutants. Magneto deals with this surprise by ripping the metal from the man's flesh. Magneto notes that someone must have turned him into that machine, making him as much a victim as the mutants he killed. As the boy dies, he mutters a few words, "I'm not a killer... I couldn't stop myself... it was like i was on autopilot."

Magneto isn't a cold-blooded killer. He kills with a purpose. And with the way this issue ended, it brings Magneto out of his usual role of seeking vengeance for mutants. While it could be argued that Magneto may be motivated to find who turned that boy into a mutant-killing machine in order to protect mutants, it looked more like Magneto felt he made a mistake. All of his preparation and research, and his record for not falling for false information to draw him out, all failed. Bunn seems to have a good handle of how to write for Magneto and art gives off a gritty, dark tone to the series. Magneto and his creative team mean business and this issue hits all the right Magneto notes while still giving a slightly different take on a popular Marvel villain. It's interesting to see Magneto take his own path, apart from the X-Men or the Brotherhood (and it spins out of the events in Uncanny X-Men #16). Deanpool is hopeful for the series and will definitely pick up the next couple issues to see if it can keep up the solid work. 8.5/10 metal objects.

Wolverine and the X-Men #1
Okay, Deanpool doesn't want to be too harsh, but this issue did not stick with him at all. So warning everyone now, this review may feel very detached and make the comic seem boring... but the more appropriate way of phrasing it is "it wasn't Deanpool's cup of tea."

This one issue is all over the place and though it is a number one issue, it must be continuing off a previous ongoing series. Thanks to the prologue we know that Wolverine losing his healing factor is still in continuity. There's a new kid, Quentine Quire, who is destined to wield a mysteriously renewed Phoenix Force. All of this sounds interesting enough AND the artwork from the beginning looks amazing! But the rest just doesn't follow through as equally interesting.

The issue mainly follows different kids at the Jean Grey School. There's a new girl who joins with the ability to control and bond with animals. And gets dubbed Nature Girl. Yes, it's pretty lame. But this scene seemed more like one of those that are like a parody to the fact that there are so many different X-Men and different names. Elsewhere Wolverine is in some inter-dimensional prison and looking as badass ever with a new eyepatch. This looks more like a Wolverine we want to see who has lost his healing factor. Not changing anything about himself despite the loss of his power, still as scrappy as ever. Storm is the headmaster of the school, hopeful that kids ultimately get the guidance they need. Beast is off in space with a small group of his students. Doop is working in the cafeteria. Only noting it since Doop will be getting his own mini-series next month. Deanpool never even heard of the guy before this month.

The story continues to jump around to different scenes for different characters throughout the school. It feels similar to an after school, high school show: cafeteria scene, physical education scene, students wearing uniforms, students gossiping about recent news. A young mutant named Rockslide is seen trying to kill bamfs, no not Bad ass mofos, but more like mini-Nightcrawlers. Meaning they can teleport as well. Quentin is blamed for the little skirmish since he has the new responsibility of running the school. Not that he wants to anyways, he doesn't feel he should be running the school, but the X-Men have trusted him with this responsibility. Via context clues, we learn that Quentin has a run-in with some future X-Men where he must've learned something about his future connection with the Phoenix. Still, he seems pretty hard-headed about his new responsibilities. It's clear he is scared of becoming the Phoenix, something even the younger Jean Grey is going through in the All-New X-Men series. But the biggest thing bothering Quentin is that he feels he can no longer choose his own destiny.

Back with Wolverine, he finds Fantomex in the prison. Wonder if Fantomex will become a regular for this series, since he's already a member in the new X-Force comic. Deanpool forgot Fantomex is another mutant with a healing factor. After all the fighting, Wolverine reveals he is trying to recruit Fantomex to help out at the school and to help give him some sort of purpose. Fantomex believes he belongs in the inter-dimensional prison with everyone else in there.

The whole issue ends with each of the different settings see a Phoenix insignia popping up on all TVs, computers, and phone screens.

It may be harsh, but Deanpool just didn’t connect with the issue. Not too many old-school characters. Out of the new ones, none really seem relatable. It's hard to tell too much where this series will be headed or who the real voice of the series really is. There's some tease to the beginning of the issue in what looked like a "flash forward" that Wolverine may die. That rumor has been floating around now, so maybe it will happen in this ongoing series. The book definitely has potential for some interesting storylines, but doesn’t seem like "must read" material in the endless X titles. But the art is top notch talent. Can't take anything away from that aspect of it. Maybe for big X-Men fans looking for a fresh set of X characters or for younger readers who can relate to the school-type environment. But for Deanpool 5.5/10 bamfs.

Not a bad set of debuts for the first week of March for Marvel NOW. Minus the Wolverine and the X-Men one. Moon Knight and Magneto look like some promising series that are showing a newer version and telling of Marvel characters that have been around for a while. Don't forget to check out the Weekly Pick-Ups from the same week as these debuts. Thanks for reading!

One of the best variants ever.