Comic To Read This Week: X-Men: Second Coming #2

It's been a few weeks since I posted a "Comic To Read This Week." Several that I recommend would be Marvel's Shadowland #1, Batman Beyond #1, and even Hulk #23. All of these have some great stories and look to set-up some great things ahead, and that's what I want to tell you about; what's ahead. X-Men #1 came out last week, but the two issues fans should read before hand came out this week. Luckily I was able to fight the urge to take a peak into how Second Coming ended, but after reading the final chapter in this saga I realized it had already ended last week. X-Men: Second Coming #2 is not about what happened to the mutants, but what is ahead for them.

Chapter 13 saw Cable torn to pieces by keeping a gate from the future open and allowing X-Force to come home. After watching the man who raised her die before he eyes Hope turned on her mutant abilities for the first time, or rather everyone else's abilities. Hope showed the powers of several mutants and used them to destroy Bastion.

X-Men Second Coming #2 is broken into four parts, with five different writers, and four artists. The first part deals with the aftermath of the battle. We see the casualties, the broken limbs, and Magneto giving Hope word of encouragement. In part two we attend Cable's funeral, which to me wasn't nearly as touching as Nightcrawler's.

But what would an X-Men comic be without highlighting Wolverine? The third act explores Logan's emotions and issues with those closest to him. Storm looks down on Logan for his involvement in X-Force, and when Cyclops disbands the team Logan agrees it is what's best for his surrogate daughter and clone, Laura. What these three don't know is that Logan plans on continuing X-Force’s work, and you'll never guess who is on his roster. If you want to know you got to pick up the issue.

The last installment of this issue may just be the juiciest of all as the X-Men gather by a bonfire to reflect the events of the last few days. Emma see's a twinkle in Hope's eyes, but that twinkle comes with some fire in the form of a phoenix in Hope's hand. Hope looks at Emma and says two sentences in a different voice, "Well then, little spirit. Prepare."

Emma runs to tell Scott what she has just seen, but Scott is too busy looking at something else; five new mutant signature lights that Cerebro has located. Looks like mutants may not be done for after all.

The first two parts were kind of snore fests but the last two parts more than made up for it. Wolverine making his own secret team, Hope may be able to be possessed by the Phoenix force, and five new mutants have just been born. As an X-Men fan this issue gave me goose bumps.

Uncanny X-Men: The Heroic Age also came out this week and is really the next issue to read after Second Coming #2. Steve Rogers finds Cyclops in The Savage Land and ask him to bring the X-Men back into the spotlight as world heroes. He even gets the president to award Scott a medal for all he has done for humanity. Meanwhile Hope decides to begin her journey to find out who her biological parents were.

These issues are peaks into what is to come for the X-Men, and I hope what is to come next helps bring the X-Men not only back into the spotlight as heroes, but as major contenders in the Marvel Universe. With new mutants finally being born, but also what seems like new troubles ahead, the future for the X-Men seems bright; time to go searching for those five lights.

My Top 12 X-Men Storylines

I have always been an X-Men fan. I was there when the Fox Saturday morning cartoon brought out the best in the X-Men, and when The WB's cartoon put Marvel's mighty mutants in one giant episode of 90210. Bryan Singer's X-Men films were close to perfection, while after watching Brett Ratner's film I wanted to vomit more than when I drank an entire bottle of vodka.

I've been with the X-Men through all their struggles and my own. They are a group of superheroes that is sworn to protect a world that fears and hates them. On July 8 the first X-Men #1 in almost 20 years is being published, while other Marvel heroes like Iron Man or the Fantastic Four have had about eight #1's in that time. The X-Men have endured a lot in their 47 years of publishing, and with Second Coming about to end (the last part will go on sale a week after X-Men #1 comes out, damn publishing delays) I look back at some of my favorite X-Men storylines that keep me loving the students from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

12) The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix #1-4)

Writer: Scott Lobdell

Artist: Gene Ha

In the storyline Inferno Cyclop's baby son, Nathan, had been infected with the techno virus with no hope of a cure. Then a woman from the future offers to take Nathan into the future to save his life. In doing so she later brought Scott and Jean to the future in order to raise Nathan and help him suppress the virus that was slowly killing him. During their years in the future Scott and Jean went under the alias's Slym and Red Dayspring and tried to raise Nathan while leading the resistance against Apocalypse.

Sometime after Scott and Jean returned to the present a man named Cable came from the future to stop Apocalypse from ruling his future. This man was using his telekinetic abilities to stop the techno virus from killing him. His real name is Nathan Summers.

11) Angels and Demons (X-Force #1-6)

Writers: Craig Kyle & Chris Yost

Artist: Clayton Crain

At long last Wolverine is leading his own team! Cyclops has put together the X-Men’s best hunters and trackers to take down their enemies before they strike first. While on their first mission to take out a Purifier base Wolfbane is captured and brainwashed. Once returning to base she attacks Warren and brings back Archangel, which is good because the Purifers just found a way to make their own army of archangels.  This series is unlike any X-Men series before it. It’s hard hitting, gritty, and has lot of violence. Bring on the bad guys!

10) The Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire (Uncanny X-Men #475-486)

Writer: Ed Brubaker

Artists: Billy Tan and Clayton Henry

Finally, after years of rumors, the third Summers brother had been found in Deadly Genesis, and he was pissed. Vulcan had been a slave to the Shi'ar Empire his entire childhood, and when he returned to Earth to find Charles Xavier and his brother Cyclops his happiness was short lived with the supposed death of himself and his team mates. Vulcan was hidden for years, plotting his revenge on Xavier and the X-Men and he finally got it, revealing that Xavier blocked Vulcan from Scott's mind to save him the pain of losing his brother.

Now that Vulcan had gotten justice with Xavier he journeyed to space take down the beings who tore him from his mother’s womb, killed her, and then enslaved him for years; the Shi'ar. When Xavier, Nightcrawler, Marvel Girl, Havok, and Polaris find the Shi'ar Empire Vulcan had already established himself ruler, and by trying to kill Xavier in the M'kraan crystal Vulcan accidentally brought back Charles powers that had been missing since M-Day. Vulcan also ended up killing his own father, Corsair, and spent the next few years in space trying to rule it all. Havok stayed in space to try and defeat his younger brother by leading the resistance. Star Wars indeed.

9) Messiah Complex (January 2007-March 2008)

Only 198 mutants survived after the events of M-day. And the ones that still had their abilities could only wait for their own extinction. But in Alaska the first mutant birth in two years had arrived and everybody was after it. Mr. Sinister wanted to study it, Purifiers wanted to sacrifice it, the X-Men wanted to protect it, while Bishop feared this child would be the true end to mutant kind and wished to kill it. This event saw the formation of a new X-Force team, and saw Cyclops for the first time step up to lead his dying species. It's the first story in an epic trilogy that is followed by Messiah War and Second Coming.

8) Unstoppable (Astonishing X-Men #19-24, Giant Size Astonishing X-Men #1)

Writer: Joss Whedon

Artist: John Cassaday

Throughout Whedon’s take on X-Men he gave the fans the gifts of Colossus and Kitty doing it for the first time, Cyclops wiping out a sentinel on the front lawn, and even Wolverine drinking lots of beer. In his final storyline Whedon took the characters off world to see if the prophecy about Colossus being the destroyer of Breakworld is true. But the bad guys didn’t want to take the chance by building a giant bullet and sent it straight for Earth. In an act of heroism Kitty ends up sacrificing herself to save the planet. This is classic Whedon writing and I loved how each part of his X-Men tale kept getting bigger and bigger.

7) The Age of Apocalypse (1995-96)

What would the world be like if Charles Xavier never formed the X-Men? That simple question sparked a summer of excitement for every X-Men fan. Charles's son went to the past to kill Magneto so that his father's dream would prevail, but in doing so killed his own father. The present was re-written to a world where Apocalypse ruled and Magneto led the X-Men against the evil oppressor, and in honor of his old friend.

This alternate reality had some great joy treats, such as Wolverine and Jean as a couple, Nathan Summers without the techno virus and fulfilling his destiny of destroying Apocalypse, and Rogue married to Magneto; and they have a son named Charles. Some characters like Blink and Holocaust were so great the even carried them over to the regular Marvel U. This is a must read for any X-Men fan.

6) End of the Greys (Uncanny X-Men #466-471)

Writer: Chris Claremont

Artist: Chris Bachalo

Rachel Summers came from the future to stop her world from ever existing, and when she arrived she found something she never had; a family. But unfortunately for her she is her mother's daughter and in her DNA, along with all of Jean Grey's relatives, is the ability for the Phoenix to come alive in them. So during a Grey family get together to welcome Rachel the Shi'ar sent their death squad to kill everyone who shared a chromosome with Jean.

The Grey family deaths were narrated with Rachel telling a little about each family member as we see them die; one of the most tragic and well done scenes in comics I've ever read. The end of the storyline is the X-Men trying to save Rachel from herself as she tried to lure every Shi'ar assassin to her that killed the only family she ever had.

5) Operation: Zero Tolerance (Summer 1997)

After Onslaught Bastion had enough evidence he needed to start his mission to kill every mutant on Earth. He captured Cyclops, Jean, Storm and Wolverine, tortured them, and then put a bomb in Cyclop's stomach. Meanwhile Iceman has the distinct pleasure or putting together team of X-Men newbie’s to try and take down Bastion and his whole operation.

He is accompanied by a reluctant doctor, a bitter Morlock, and an Israel spy. Bobby Drake has always been the funny guy of the X-Men, but in this storyline he has to step up and be the leader because the fate of mutants everywhere is resting on his shoulders. "Maybe you should go back to school Bobby."

4) E for Extinction (New X-Men #114-116)

Writer: Grant Morrison

Artist: Frank Quitely

Grant Morrison is known for his complex and sometimes over saturated writing style; at least he is to me. But after X-Men hit it big at the box office Marvel trusted him to take the X-Men comic series and make it his own. The result was the death of Jean Grey, again, but at the start of his run we were introduced to Xavier's evil twin sister who is looking to kill a lot of mutants. And she succeeds with the death of millions of mutants on Genosha, and the White Queen being the only survivor.

Morrison also simplified his team with core characters; put the X-Men in cool outfits, and showed Scott and Jean's marriage on the rocks. I'm not a huge fan of Quitely's art, but Morrison's plot more than held my attention. To this day I still want one of those black and yellow leather jackets.

3) House of M (House of M #1-8)

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artist: Olivier Coipel

This story involves more than just the X-Men, but at the end of this mini-series the X-Men have never been the same. Magneto's daughter, the Scarlet Witch, is going crazy, and has killed several members of the Avengers. Now Charles Xavier has lost hope for salvation and brings the two teams together to contemplate Wanda's possible death.

Before they can reach an agreement though the Scarlet Witch changes reality to give every hero the perfect happiness they desire. But Wolverine is on to this and has to find the rest of the Marvel heroes to put the world back the way it was. But when they accomplish their goal Wanda disappears, and so do the abilities of almost every mutant on the planet. Only 198 mutants retain their powers, and mutants go from the next stage in human evolution to an endangered species.

2) Gifted (Astonishing X-Men #1-6)

Writer: Joss Whedon

Artist: John Cassaday

For years Grant Morrison turned the X-Men on its side with lots of drama and depressing moments. But who better to bring the fun back in X-Men than Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator, Joss Whedon's. Whedon brought Kitty Pryde back into the mix and had Scott and Logan duking out on the front lawn in front of the students. The team held meetings in a nursery and the Hawaiian Islands. The dialogue alone was classic Whedon making these characters quirky and fun, despite the events around them.

An alien from another world has helped develop a cure for mutant kind, and he did it by bringing Colossus back from the dead. Now the Russian mutant has come back to his first love, Kitty, and the X-Men. This is a great starts to a great run. I swear, anything Joss Whedon does is just awesome. Except, Dollhouse; I mean what was that?

1) The Dark Phoniex Saga (X-Men #129-138)

Writer: Chris Claremont

Artist: John Bryne

Obviously the most famous X-Men storyline, and by far the best in almost everyone's eyes. Jean Grey first came to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in the very first issue of X-Men and over the years she grew not only as a hero and young woman, but in her relationship with Scott Summers as well.

After saving the M'Kraan crystal and the Shi'ar Empire the Phoenix still resides within Jean. The Hellfire Club tried manipulating her into being their puppet, and in doing so unleashed The Dark Phoenix; who travels to a far off galaxy and destroys and entire solar system. The Shi'ar have no choice but to fight the X-Men for the life of Jean Grey. After the loss Jean sacrifices herself in hopes of never harming another being ever again. Scott and Jean's relationship make Romeo and Juliet look like a Disney fairy tale.

My Top 12 80's Movies That Need Remade

With The A-Team and The Karate Kid blowing up at the box office this summer you can believe that Hollywood is looking at revamping 1980's films. I know a sequel toTron will come out this year, and some 80's cartoons are in development to make the jump to the big screen as well.  There are some films, however, I feel should not be updated, but Hollywood will eventually do it anyway. But with special effects being a whole lot better than that they were almost thirty years ago here are 12 films I wouldn't mind seeing an updated version of.

12) Wargames (1983)

Matthew Broderick plays David Lightman in this film about a computer hacker who accidentally played a game of thermal nuclear war with government software. David thought it was all just for fun till U.S. government came knocking at his door.  Now he has to keep playing the game to prevent world destruction.

POSSIBLE DAVID CASTING: Elijah Wood

11) Mr. Mom (1983)

It's amazing to think that after making to comedy about Jack, a stay-at-home dad, Michael Keaton went on to do Tim Burton's Batman. Keaton was the fish-out-of-water as he takes care of the kids and the house while his wife was out bringing home the bacon. This idea was very odd back in the day, but with women starting to earn more in the work force than their spouses I’d say it’d be a relevant film.

POSSIBLE JACK CASTING: Dane Cook

10) Escape from New York (1981)

Nobody was a better anti-hero in the 80's than Snake Plissken. Kurt Russell's iconic character was a bad boy of the future who had to save the president from New York City. In 1997 the city was turned into a maximum security prison, and Air Force One had crashed in the middle of Manhattan. The 1996 sequel, Escape from L.A. almost was a carbon copy of it's predecessor, and was a flop. I say let's bring this apocalyptic franchise back to life and see if Snake can bring back the old trend that it's good to be bad.

POSSIBLE SNAKE CASTING: Kurt Russell is Snake Plissken, 'nuff said

9) American Ninja (1985)

Joe Armstrong is an army private with no memory except one, he knows how to kick-ass. Joe has ninja skills and it’s a good thing too because the USA is going to need him. The Black Star Ninja army is stealing military weapons and selling them to the highest bidder. Unfortunately for them they have to cross Joe first. It used to be, for some good martial arts movies you had to look to another country, but American Ninja brought whoop ass to America and I say lets bring it back!

POSSIBLE JOE CASTING: Jason Statham

8) The Monster Squad (1987)

With the entire world in the middle of monster mania with the help of Twilight I say we need to strike when the iron is hot. The Monster Squad was a club where a group of kids came to talk about their love for monster movies, but when they find out that there are real monsters in their town it's up to them to try and take down Dracula & Co. The preview alone would be enough to pack teenagers into theater seats.

POSSIBLE SQUAD: Jay Baruchel, Kellan Lutz, Jonah Hill, and Ellen Page

7) The NeverEnding Story (1984)

They say kids never read any more, well maybe it's because this film freaked them out too much. Bastian is a young kid who stumbles into an old book store while trying to hide from a group of bullies. Bastian steals a book that looks interesting even though the shop keeper says it’s dangerous. After reading about the land of Fantasia Bastian finds out he is the only one who can save it, because the characters have been waiting for him too. Imagine a kid who loves Lord of the Rings being able to be a part of the story. Plus I would love to see updated version of Rock Biter and Falkor.

POSSIBLE CHILDLIKE EMPRESS CASTING: Taylor Swift

6) Iron Eagle (1986)

After his dad is captured in a dogfight on enemy territory young Doug Masters enlist the help of air force veteran Col. Charles “Chappy” Sinclair, played by Louis Gossett Jr, to help save his father. Doug likes to play trendy music while flying his jet, and if we add today's hip hop or alternative rock to the soundtrack you've got a movie that looks and sounds cool.

POSSIBLE CHAPPY CASTING: Do you even have to ask? Who else but Samuel L. Jackson can play a badass mother f*cking colonel.

5) Flash Gordon (1980)

While on a plane ride back to New York quarterback Flash Gordon is caught in a horrible storm brought on by Mango ruler, Ming the Merciless. Ming plans to destroy Earth through a series of natural disasters, and Flash is the only one who can stop him. This film has a giant story with lots of fantasy elements that would be great with today’s special effects.

POSSIBLE FLASH CASTING: Paul Walker

4) Ghostbusters (1984)

Who ya gonna call? Bill Murray and co. made this film a smash comedy that spawned everything from comic books to lunch boxes. So who could play the four ghost hunters? Why the four leads from The 40-Year-Old Virgin; Seth Rogen as Venkman, Paul Rudd as Ray, Steve Carrell as Egon, and Romany Malco as Winston. My mouth is just watering thinking about how awesome that movie would be. Just make sure Slimer gets some screen time.

POSSIBLE DANA BARRETT CASTING: Natalie Portman

3) Weird Science (1985)

Two dorks are at home on a Friday night and get silly the idea to make a woman Frankenstein style. Thanks to a bolt of lightning and some computer effects they succeed in making their own personal genie who has the body of a supermodel. Lisa helps get the boys their dream girls and throws a party that will help make them popular. Eat your heart out Robin Williams!

POSSIBLE LISA CASTING: Jennifer Lopez

2) The Last Starfighter (1984)

Alex Rogen is a kid from a trailer park who is looking to get as far away as possible. Little does Alex know that he will end up light years away from home in the middle of an intergalactic feud. Alex owns the top score on the arcade game Starfighter, but the game was actually a test to see who in the universe has the skill to be a real starfighter and help defend the Frontier from Xur and the Ko-Dan Armada. This film would be for all of us who spend hours playing video games and hoping one day it'll pay off.

POSSIBLE ALEX CASTING: Zac Eforn

1) Teen Wolf (1985)

Michael J. Fox played Scott Howard, the most average guy you can find, which bugs the crap out of him. All Scott wants is to be special and he gets his wish when he finds out his family tree is full of werewolves. Scott uses his wolf abilities to get his basketball team all the way to the state championship, but along the way Scott gets quite a few people mad at him and has to figure out if being a werewolf is really worth it. This one of my guilty pleasure movies, and nothing would please me more than to see this franchise make a comeback.

POSSIBLE SCOTT CASTING: Logan Lerman

Eclipse Shines Light On Supporting Characters

Up on the big screen the phrase 'third times a charm' really doesn't hold up too well. Most of the time the third film in a series is the one that kills the franchise, but Michael Bay must have missed that memo and jumped the gun on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. This week millions of people will crowd into theaters across the country to see what Bella Swan's answer is to Edward Cullen's marriage proposal. Of course if you read the book series you already know how this installment of the phenomenon ends; with lots and lots of dead people.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse picks up right where New Moon left off. Bella wishes to become a vampire so that she may live with her high school sweetheart forever. Edward agrees to turn her, but on one condition; that she marry him. I think Bella's best friend, and werewolf, Jacob would disagree with Bella's request since he's in love with her, and views Edward, along with rest of the Cullen family, as blood sucking monsters. Bella must choose between staying human with Jacob or becoming a vampire with Edward.

But Jacob and Edward may have to put away their pouty faces for a while because the vampire who has been trying to kill Bella for two films now, Victoria, is creating an army of vampires, and she's pointing them all in Bella's direction. Can the Cullen's and the wolf pack put aside their hatred for each other to try and save Bella? Who will Bella choose in the love triangle that launched a thousand fan sites? I've read this book, and my wife's a borderline 'twi-hard' so I've heard how the story ends.

David Slade takes over directing duty on this installment of the Twilight saga which made me a little excited to see it. Slade taking the reins on this film made me happy because another film he did, 30 Days of Night, is my all-time favorite vampire film. Eclipse definitely had more action and edge to it than the previous two films, and that helped make it more enjoyable for anyone who isn't mesmerized when Taylor Lautner takes off his shirt. I wasn't crazy about the way the vampire's insides look like ice, but at I'll let it slide in order to stay accurate to author Stephanie Meyers description.

A surprising thing happened after I watched this film; I didn't think Kristen Stewart did a horrible job. Sure she still needed work on making her face have actual expressions, but her performance wasn't half as bad as the first two films. Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner both stepped up their game as well. The friction between their two characters fighting for Bella's affection was the best part of the film for me. For a while you can actually see Bella contemplating about picking Jacob instead of Edward, but don't hold your breath.

The real treat in this film was that it told a bigger story than the first two, and allowed the supporting character's roles to come out more. We find out about the origins of some of Edward's siblings, Jasper and Rosalie, plus got more screen time with the rest of the Cullen's. Bryce Dallas Howard replaces Rachelle Lefevre in this sequel as the villainous Victoria. Apparently Lefevre was said to have a scheduling conflict with shooting another movie, but Lefevre said it was a lie and says she was replaced for no reason; bummer. Dakota Fanning and the vampire police known as the Volturi also make an appearance in this film, but not big enough of one to make a difference.

All and all this film was more than the whiny teenage girl's love story like the first two films. You had werewolves and vampires duking it out, a young girl trying to choose which hero she will love, and yes ladies, Lautner does have his shirt off quite a bit; just don't scream in my ear every time he's in a scene. I just want to know when this Twilight thing will end so I can have my movie theaters back.

Rating:  C+

My Top 12 Saddest Moments in Comic Book History

Every Wednesday I go into my local comic book store to pick up the newest issues that our dear publishers have put out. Most weeks it is the highlight of my day. I get excited to see what adventures or troubles my favorite heroes are getting into. Sometime though, I get something I didn’t expect; a death in the family. The best comic deaths have a great impact on a book and the characters, and other times it’s a character I love dying heroically that makes me lose it. All of these may not be deaths, but after reading comic books for over 20 years these are my top 12 saddest moments in comic book history.

12) Ralph Dibny Finds Sue’s Body: Identity Crisis #1

Sure the cute couple sometimes make you sick with how great they are together, but secretly you wish it was you. And behind every great hero there is a great spouse, and none was better than Sue Dibny and her support for her husband, Elongated Man. But in the first issue of Brad Meltzer’s masterpiece Ralph finds his wife burnt to death after Jean Loring (The Atom’s wife) tried to merely knock Sue out to create a crisis and get her husband to come back to her. But the worst part of it all; at the time of her death Sue was pregnant. Unfortunely this wouldn’t be the only death before Identity Crisis was over.

11) The Death of Harry Osborn: The Spectacular Spider-Man #200

Every hero has tragedy in their background, but Peter Parker has more than most. His best friend’s dad, Norman Osborn, has been making Peter’s life miserable to quite some time, and after he was thought dead Harry took up the role of The Green Goblin, vowing revenge against his best friend for his father’s death. One night Harry invited all of his father’s enemies to a party in hopes of blowing up the building with them in it. Spider-Man comes in to save the day, but soon he is the one that need rescuing, and at the last second his saved by Harry. Moments after the miraculous save, Harry collapse and dies due to the Green Goblin serum in his blood. But with his last words he lets Peter know that he is, and will always be, his best friend.

10) Superboy Dies: Infinite Crisis #6

After The Death of Superman in 1992 four heroes arouse from the ashes claiming to be Superman except for one. Kon-El was a clone of Superman and Lex Luthor, and by far my favorite in The Reign of Supermen. After the true man of steel returned Superboy went on to have his own adventures in Hawaii, eventually joining the Teen Titans along with his girlfriend, Wonder Girl, and best friends Robin and Impulse.

In 2006’s Infinite Crisis Superboy faced off against a Superboy from another dimension looking to destroy Earth. Kon-El sacrificed himself to stop Superboy Prime and save Earth. This was a pivotal moment in Infinite Crisis as all the heroes decided that Superboy’s sacrifice would not be in vain, and that they must save Earth.

Years later Superboy was resurrected in the miniseries, Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds to take down Superboy Prime once again. After the victory Conner Kent returned to the present to his friends and a new life, but I will never forget the image of the heroes surrounding Superboy’s dead body.

9) Gwen Stacy Dies: The Amazing Spider-Man #121

Peter Parker has had a slew of women after him over the years, but before Mary Jane the love of his life was Gwen Stacy. Some fans say Gwen is Spider-Man’s true love, and after a bumpy relationship they were close to being married. But Norman Osborn had other plans. In a roof top scene, similar to the one in the first Spider-Man movie, The Green Goblin captures Gwen Stacy and throws her off the George Washington Bridge. Spider-Man shoots a web to save her, but the whiplash effect accidentally snaps her neck and kills her.

This was huge moment in comics, and in Spider-Man’s life. Peter has never forgiven himself for this error in judgement, and even though he ended up marrying Mary Jane he will never forget Gwen Stacy, his first love.

8) Artist Michael Turner Dies of Cancer: June 27, 2008

As a comic book fan I have my favorite writers & artist and Michael Turner was my favorite artist of years. He started out on comics like Witchblade and Soulfire; then eventually moving on to draw some of his childhood heroes like Batman, Superman, The Avengers, and Spider-Man.

At the Chicago Comic-Con in 2008 I arrived to find out my favorite artist had died the night before of bone cancer. In August 2008 a memorial issue of Fathom was done in Turner’s honor. To this day Turner’s death is felt in the comic book world, and will always be remembered.

7) Tony Stark’s Confession: Civil War: The Confession

Civil War was a four issue miniseries that rocked the Marvel Universe in 2006, putting hero against hero for the Superhero Registration Act. Captain America led the rebellion while Iron Man was for the act. The ending result was the death of Captain America. In this single issue Tony breaks down about the events that led to his best friend’s death and how he feels responsible.

Some of my favorite comic book issues are ones that don’t have a lot of action, but plenty of good dialogue. This issue lets you into the psyche of Tony Stark and how he felt about being pinned as the bad guy during Civil War. This issue will touch you right down to the center of your iron heart.

6) Peter Parker Gives up Mary Jane for Aunt May’s Life: The Amazing Spider-Man #545

Peter has done some stupid things over the years, but this to me seems like his biggest mistake yet. After revealing his identity to the world in Civil War everyone begins hunting him, and when they find him they’re out for blood; which they get. Unfortunately it’s Aunt May’s body that catches the bullet. Peter spends four issues trying to save the women who raised him in One More Day. He goes to Iron Man, Doctor Strange, even Doctor Doom to try and save May. But when all hope seemed lost the demon Mephisto makes a deal with Peter. He will save Aunt May;s life in exchange for his and Mary Jane’s marriage. After hours of talking and a sneak peak at the daughter they’ll never have, they agree to the terms and Mephisto erases any memories Peter and Mary Jane have of each other, bringing about the storyline known as Brand New Day.

Why Peter would sacrifice his young wife for his old aunt is beyond me. May lived a long life, I think she’d understand. In any event, this brought back to life Harry Osborn and erased 20 years of Spider-Man history. Some fans liked it, others thought it spat on every person who worked on Spider-Man in the last 20 years. I agree with the spatters.

5) Kitty Pryde’s Sacrifice: Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1

When you look back and read Joss Whedon ‘s entire run of Astonishing X-Men you realize it was all about Kitty Pryde. Kitty returns in the first issue to teach at the Xavier’s Institute. Through twenty-four issues Kitty is reunited with her love, Colossus, is the only X-men to escape when the Hellfire Club invades the mansion, and is the only person who can save the world when a giant bullet is heading towards Earth.

The rulers of Breakworld are hoping that in destroying Earth they’ll save their own planet, so they launch a bullet that Kitty Pryde hitches a ride on. Using all of her power and strength, she phases the massive bullet all the way through the planet, but can’t escape it as it continues through space in hopes of saving other planets as well.

This is a huge sacrifice and heroic act by a character most people look over when the tough gets going. Recently in X-Men, Magneto over used his powers to bring the bullet back to Earth and returning Kitty Pryde home. It is still unclear what the long-term affects of this will be, but at least the X-Men have their little Shadowcat back.

4) Jean Grey's 1st Death: Uncanny X-Men #137

In 1963 X-Men #1 was published and we were introduced to a little red-headed girl who was scared to find out she was a mutant in a world that hated her just for being born. Through the years Jean grew into a young women, and found love with Scott Summers, otherwise known in Cyclops. But in a return mission from space Jean could have never dreamed what her sacrifice would mean to the rest of her life and the X-Men. Jean arose from the Hudson River as the Phoenix and slowly became more unstable as time went on. Soon she become The Dark Phoenix and destroyed an entire solar system using her awesome powers. In a final act to save her soul and galaxy Jean killed herself in front of her friends and man she loves. “She could have lived as a god, but she chose to die a human.”

In 1986 Jean returned to the Marvel U. after the Fantastic Four discovered an egg at the bottom of the Hudson. It turns out the phoenix force had replicated Jean’s DNA and placed Jean in a safe cacoon at the bottom of the river. Jean returned to the X-Men to find Scott married to her clone, but eventually the two got back together.  They married only to part years later; first in Cyclop's supposed death, and then Jean’s death at the hands of Magneto. “Live Scott. Live. All I ever did was die on you.”

3)Superman’s Funeral: Superman: The Man of Steel #20

The man of tomorrow fell defending his city from Doomsday in Superman #75, and when it came time for the funeral everyone cried, including me. In this issue we see the worlds heroes, and his best friends, carrying the man of steel to his memorial. Batman and Robin aren’t in the crowd, nor are Clark Kent’s parents, Jonathan and Martha. To me this issue hit several emotional cord; as picturing my friends carrying my coffin, and also the tragedy of the Kent’s not going to their own son’s funeral for fear of exposing his identity. But of course Superman returns to reclaim his spot as Earth’s greatest hero. He wasn’t dead, just taking a little nap.

2) Betty Banner Dies: The Incredible Hulk # 466

For years Bruce Banner was on the run for his alter-ego, and although he was perceived as a monster there was one woman who always loved him no matter what everyone else thought. Betty and Bruce were living on a military base, General Ross had quit hunting the Hulk, and Bruce was on the verge of curing himself when tragedy struck.

The Hulk’s long time rival, the Abomination, used the Hulk’s blood against Betty making it look like her exposure to the Hulk all these years gave her gamma poisoning. Bruce’s last effort to save his wife failed and General Ross put her body in cyrogenitc freezing in hopes of reviving her one day.

This event tore Bruce up and was again on the run from General Ross. After many adventures, one that took him into space, the Hulk now has Betty back, he just doesn’t know it yet. Good job Mr. Joeb!

1)Jack Drake Dies: Identity Crisis #4

Every time I read this scene I tear up. This is the beginning of a very long year for Time Drake.  Tim has revealed to his dad that he is Batman’s sideckick, Robin. His fathe Jack accepts it, but fears for his son’s life after the death of Sue Dibny. As Tim goes out on patrol an intruder enters the Drake home and Jack is left to defend himself, making one last phone call to his son.

Jack tells Batman to look after his son, Batman steps on the Batmobile’s peddle, refusing to let another boy’s childhood end, and Tim cries out to his dad in tears. The end of the issue is a great full page spread that will leave you weaping like a baby. I guarantee it.