By Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel

Marvel Comics, November/2005

The battle rages on as Dr. Strange attempts to get Wanda to set the world back. Quite the futile betrayal occurs during this in an attempt for revenge. Though you get your fill of the fight, the real focus is on finding out where Xavier is and why the world is this way. Both of which have answers that are shocking and the latter has me with a newfound respect for Magneto that I have seen more common in recent comics.

On top of all the great action scenes, a lot of the scenes with Scarlet Witch and Dr. Strange are almost trippy. It was almost like M.C. Escher decided to lend a hand with some of it. The coloring of some text for certain persons speech had me a little confused, probably because I am unfamiliar with Dr. Strange. This one keeps giving as it goes and. You won’t be left feeling unsatisfied by the work that went into this issue.

This, by a landslide, is the best and strongest installment in the House of M miniseries yet. If you are even only somewhat a fan of Marvel, I would venture to bet that you would love this one page for page. And probably feel just like I do: ready to see how it all ends.

By Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel

Marvel Comics, October/2005

With the help of Layla, a mutant with the ability to unlock memories buried in the subconscious mind, Wolverine has successfully assembled quite the team of heroes to change the world back to normal. The goals all point at crashing the royal party at Genosha, where quite the list of villains (and some heroes) are meeting. Needless to say the heroes split into two teams, a small team to find Xavier and Scarlet Witch and a hefty team to fight anybody who will get in the way. All of this under the assumption that the stolen jet has tipped Magnus and crew off.

This issue had some great scenes that set me back a second and made me really look at them before turning the page. The House of Magnus family is one of these that I am inclined to mention. I have failed to mention how awesome the new sentinels look as well. This issue has a full page devoted to one. Unlike the last few, with only blips of conversation, this one has a great balance of both conversation and action. I didn’t feel rushed but I didn’t feel like it was taking forever either.

Finally, they get down to business for setting the world back. This is a great read and a must have installment in the series. Even as a stand-alone comic, I would have enjoyed this one.

By Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel

Marvel Comics, October/2005

The entirety of this issue is devoted to unlocking the memories of all of the remaining Avengers and X-Men. Then they all unite with one common goal, to take over the kingdom of Magnus and set the world back to how it is supposed to be. There are a couple humorous events in this one, I’ll let it speak for itself. We also get the first hint at where Xavier might be.

Another fast paced issue with very little hearty conversation to fill the diet. We do finally get a full look at Genosha and the artwork put into it is worthy of a “perfect” reality we have found the heroes in. I did however find it strange that Spiderman and his villains have had a makeover because Bendis has a lot of time put into the Ultimate Spiderman series. Maybe my time-lines for release dates are off though. The general builds are still similar, but not quite so overzealous.

I would be crazy not to have a good opinion about this issue. We seem to finally be getting back to where the first issue left off. Though it has been fun to see just how limitless Scarlet Witches powers seem to be;  minor anomalies or not. This issue has me with next issue in hand before I can barely even finish this review up. The story is progressing at a healthy pace again and I suggest you do the same as I am going to and keep on reading.

By Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel

Marvel Comics, September/2005

Wolverine finds himself in the midst of a number of Avenger members, from the world as we are used to, that have banded together as an underground group that works towards protecting what is left of the humans still. With the help of another and a unique ability, Wolverine is able to convince this group that the world is not as it should be and that it must be fixed right away.

Same old, same old. Everything you would expect from a Bendis comic. Nothing negative to that statement by any means of course. I’ve just grown to have a lot of faith in the quality of the storyline that I am going to read and the art can be expected to be fresh and captivating. I enjoyed the technique they used while Wolverine was fainting to enhance the readers experience. One of those things you’ll just have to read for yourself.

I really enjoy how you get to see so many reactions as people are able to remember the real world. Especially those of people that find out they no longer exist in the other world. There still seems to be a sense of duty among the group as a whole to return things to normal. Glad to see we can still count on our heroes to have a sense of duty and honor, even in a seemingly perfect world for mutant-kind. The series really starts to pick up here so I wouldn’t miss this one if you have enjoyed the series so far. This is a strong and well written installment.

By Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel

Marvel Comics, September/2005

Irony. Wolverine, the one mutant who can never seem to remember anything about his past, regains his memories of how the world is supposed to be. Not long after he remembers, he starts his hunt for Charles Xavier and correcting this fault in reality. You get a general idea of the roles many mutants play in this new world. Even how the ones we have always seem typecast as villains are now leaders, Magnus himself ruling over Genosha which seems to be almost like a mutant world capital. Wolverine makes his way through some usual allies to try to get people to remember how things were and set things right. Quickly we learn Wolverine might not be the only one that remembers.

This comic fits nice and snug with what we have seen so far from this series. Towards the end of this issue there is some really cool artwork revolving around the Royal Family. At least it was to my liking. The cover art is kind of deceptive, but this is not a new trend by any means. The plot is well played out, and I think they did a really great job switching from the ruins of Genosha to the aspiring city we find it to be in this reality. There is a fair amount of fun art in Wolverine making a run for it.

This issue is very brief. It doesn’t have many important invents in relation to the series at all in it. The only real wall of text in the entire issue is the two pages devoted to the magazine articles. Written material within a comic is one of my pet peeves so, I may have missed something important in there. Despite the lack of much dialogue, there is a lot of action in this one and it was fun to read. This issue really only works as a part of the series though. If you haven’t read thus far into the series and you don’t plan on reading anymore, I wouldn’t bother reading this one by any means.

By Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel

Marvel Comics, August/2005

This is an issue that is designed to get you up to speed after the confusing ending of the previous one. They give you a glimpse at many of the Avengers and the X-Men and their lives in what I’m assuming is an alternate reality that the Scarlet Witch has trapped them all in. The world we find ourselves in is one more to the liking of the Magnus family; One where mutants vastly outnumber the humans and various big names are the acting leaders of various countries.

Again, this issues falls not far from the Ultimate series art styles, where the heroes are all daily weight lifters. I was hoping that the Director’s Cut’s would continue so I could see more sketches and side notes, but there are none to be found for the rest of the series. Not much more to be said for this one that I didn’t already say for the first one. The art is well colored, lit, and detailed throughout.

If I didn’t think this was a one issue deal of telling you bits and pieces of the new lives every hero has been given, I would really hate this issue. But I do think this is a one issue deal so I don’t let it get to me too much. There are still few characters from the first issue that we do not see. I am fully assuming this is a teaser and the ending of the comic has me quite antsy for jumping right into the next one. Despite not going anywhere fast, I still would say this issue is a key installment in the series.