40 comments on “OUT RECENTLY: X-FACTOR #38, SHE-HULK #36”
Well, I already commented on it here. Said it would be too off-topic to comment on the talk of God in that thread but not here, so I’ll do that now.
You have one guy saying that this natural disaster was the will of God, and who are we mere mortals to say it’s not for the best? (The dictator.) You have another person saying that God isn’t doing anything to help, and has forsaken the people of Marinmer (the injured woman). You have another person saying that God must care because he sent the Liberators and the Guard, who were now helping (Valykrie). And finally you have the Red Guardian echoing my own opinion, which is this:
“You cannot conflate the indifference of nations and the randomness of nature and see in it a pattern of divine persecution.”
I suspect that God, if he exists, has nothing to do with this or with any disaster happening in the real world. Whether that means he’s forsaken everybody is another question. But what it comes down to is best summed up by another quote, this time from Futurama:
“You can’t count on God for jack. He pretty much told me so Himself.”
Now I brought up that quote in a theological discussion before and somebody else who was religious came back with another quote from the same episode, with this exchange…
GOD: Bender, being God isn’t easy, if you do too much, people get dependent. And if you do nothing, they lose hope. You have to use a light touch, like a safecracker or a pickpocket.
BENDER: Or a guy who burns down the bar for the insurance money.
GOD: Yes, if you make it look like an electrical thing. When you do things right, people won’t be sure you’ve done anything at all.
If that helps you maintain your faith in God, that he’s doing the best he can and that stopping things like earthquakes would make human beings too dependent on him, then okay. But I don’t see why that’d be such a bad thing; people get saved from burning buildings by firefighters all the time. Should firefighters not save them by that same logic, that people should not depend on another being–human or otherwise–and should instead learn to fend for themselves?
Anyway, you can’t count on God for jack, and that’s why it’s a good thing we’ve got heroes, both superhuman and normal, both on 616 and here.
Now as for the story, I just added a post to that thread earlier that I feel like including part of here. It says:
…I see the glass as half full. Because regardless of what happens to her next, she did manage to improve conditions in that country along with her teammates and the Winter Guard, and they did save a whole shitload of lives. Things are better than if they’d done nothing, even if it is only temporary. They managed to accomplish this without killing a single person as well. I call that a win.
I’ll try and post now while it looks like there’s only one post here so I won’t get spoiled immediately… I’m one of those people who enjoys the collected volumes, and in X-Factor’s case they’ve been coming out (in the UK, anyway) in a nice hardback version containing between 5 and 7 issues, and the fifth volume came out recently. What annoyed me about it was that volume four ended with X-Factor #24, and five started again at #28… explaining most of what happened inbetween, but not why what happened inbetween was absent from the volume at all.
Are issues #25-27 collected elsewhere, in relation to other stories (such as whatever Rayne was doing at the time, and whether the tattoo was supposed to be a continuation, a revelation or just a wha-the-he…)?
I’ll try and post now while it looks like there’s only one post here so I won’t get spoiled immediately… I’m one of those people who enjoys the collected volumes, and in X-Factor’s case they’ve been coming out (in the UK, anyway) in a nice hardback version containing between 5 and 7 issues, and the fifth volume came out recently. What annoyed me about it was that volume four ended with X-Factor #24, and five started again at #28… explaining most of what happened inbetween, but not why what happened inbetween was absent from the volume at all.
Are issues #25-27 collected elsewhere, in relation to other stories (such as whatever Rayne was doing at the time, and whether the tattoo was supposed to be a continuation, a revelation or just a wha-the-he…)?
Your She-Hulk vs genocide and rape story was intense, adult, powerful. Thank you for that. Also timely, dark, gritty. How many other words can I come up with that avoid my desperate, simple (perhaps simple-minded?) desire that this was an optimistic lighthearted book? I’ve bought lots of your books and comics and you are my hands down favorite writer of all time (sucking-up mode)… but this century you seem to have overwhelmed me with the dark side in all your books. I’m still buying it out of loyalty but it clearly made no difference. I’m very sorry it was cancelled. You deserve better. I mean, I can’t think of a funny, fast way to pull She-Hulk back to her better self after Civil War, either. You are to be commended for taking the character you were given and going in what seemed like a realistic direction. Unfortunate: I wasn’t reading this or any comic for realism. I just want to be happy. Yes, I want to think about important stuff; I don’t think I’m begging you to stupid it up, exactly. It’s just that there aren’t enough funny books designed for me anymore. Humor and optimism are vital to this character, the darkness of the material has overshadowed her inner light. The real world is upsetting, yes. But for $2.99 I want funny to triumph over horrible, not just stalemate. You know what? Never mind. You’re the writer, and I sure as hëll can’t outdo you. Most of your audience clearly doesn’t want whatever I want. Case in point: I think Spider-Man selling his marriage to the devil was a strange and awful choice for a hero. But Spidey didn’t tank after I stopped buying it. So really, who cares what I think? Adult, depressing material sells. Crappy worthless mindless material sells. Intelligent, worldly (if world-weary) She-Hulk is cancelled. Worst fan mail ever. Whatever I’m trying to say I hope it’s this: Bring back funny. Bring back hopeful. Bring the heroism of optimism. Bring on the new Doctor Who. Bring on the new president. Never give up. You rock.
Can I just ask what happened to Valentine De Landro, that we got a sudden fill-in of 4 pages of Stroman (who I didn’t mind) and Nelson (who I did, vehemently)?
Also out this week was Sir Apropos of Nothing #3.
I just read #2 last week (I’m a bit behind), and twice had to tell you to STOP IT! First, when the young woman says the line “A wonderful (etc.)” and again when she introduces herself to Apropos. STOP IT! I’m not supposed to LOL.
I enjoyed both books, Peter. I was nice seeing Nelson DiCastro doing interiors again, as I am not a regular Superman reader, and didn’t really follow his work inking over Byrne a while back. The story was good too.
I liked She-Hulk, and I’m really irritated that it’s being cancelled. Was this the last issue? If not, which one will be?
I probably say the same thing every month, but X-Factor is consistently one of the best reads I buy.
It’s engaging, it makes you think, it makes you care about the characters. Nothing more I can ask for out of $2.99 🙂
I feel like X-Factor needs . . . well, a point to it, other than “mutants in Detroit.”
Hey, didn’t another one of your books come out on Friday?
I like to wait a week or so for people to actually have bought and read something.
PAD
I really liked X-factor. I love every issue of She-Hulk you’ve done as always. and of course its canceled 🙁
Mr. David will you ever write for the Hulk series again I’m sure you could fix that train wreck
I liked she-hulk alot. I have been not been the biggist fan of your run as ive said but it was a nice change to have a grey ending the heroes don’t quite win but thee don’t quite lose very much like real life. i still hate Jaz she comes across as somone who has a unrequited crush.
“Hey, didn’t another one of your books come out on Friday?”
Amazon started shipping the new Star Trek Mirror Universe anthology with a New Frontier story by PAD last week.
Corey
1’m way behind in my comic book reading, but I finally roused myself to read She-Hulk #36. Peter David did a good job raising some thorny issues in this storyline, which is partly based on the cyclone which hit Burma last May. (Cyclones are the same as hurricanes, but occur in the Indian Ocean, not the Atlantic.) The ruling junta refused humanitarian aid from Western countries. It’s not a coincidence that the fictional country in this story is “Marinmer” and the official name of Burma is “Myanmar.”
It would have been very easy to paint the Winter Guard as bad guys, but I can easily see a situation where the U.S. government might send the (Mighty) Avengers to do the same thing. I liked the conversation between the Marinmer woman, the Red Guardian, and Valkyrie. (Speaking of Valkyrie, does she actually live in Asgard? I had the impression that the current Val is Samantha Parrington who has a civilian alter ego. Maybe I’m wrong, though.)
I also like the way PAD achieved a realistic happy ending for the story. The President-for-life doesn’t get killed, but he does get his just desserts at the very end.
My biggest criticism is the coloring by Barbara Ciardo. When Jennifer is locked up in prison, I did not realize she had reverted to human form until I read PAD’s dialogue. I know that a jail is not very brightly lit, but it shouldn’t be that difficult to tell.
Finally, I’m sorry if my malaise has made PAD feel unappreciated for the work he has done in writing She-Hulk. Speaking for myself, and as an admirer of Peter David’s work for both Supergirl and Fallen Angel, I am very grateful to him for the past two years.
You’re a fûçkìņg hack, i think I’ll be burning my YJ trades thanks to your batshit insane fascist pro-israel stance.
I didn’t read either of them, so I will hold off on any suggestions about your talent, morality, sanity or parentage.
Did not get the comics this week due to UPS mistake, so Austin Texas is one week behind. They are doubling up this Wed.
Dear She Hulk,
2 quick questions and a statement. I notice that when you are She Hulk your hair is much longer than when you are Jen Walters. So if Jen shaved her head or cut her hair very short would your hair stay the same length or change with Jens new style?
Do you know if Angel from the Xmen sleeps only on his stomach? With those wings I would assume so.
Also please stop throwing random cars at people. You had a fight with Monet from X Factor and threw my car at her. The car was totalled and inside was a birthday gift for my son who turned 12. I got him a bootleg DVD of the Bionic Six cartoon. It was destroyed and I blame you.
Corey: thanks.
Corey: thanks.
Peter, is the Heroes in Training anthology to which you contributed an Apropos story the one edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Jim C. Hines? I ask, because that’s what I found on Amazon, but don’t see any mention of your name or Apropos, and want to make sure I got the right one.
Thanks for mentioning the new anthology, Corey.
Chris: Do you know if Angel from the Xmen sleeps only on his stomach? With those wings I would assume so.
Luigi Novi: I always assumed that Angel slept crouched on a perch.
I don’t usually comment, I’m more of a PAD blog reader, but I wanted to comment after just reading your, well, non-interview interview about X-Factor at Newsarama. I’m a big fan of a lot of your stuff (Young Justice remains one of my all-time favorite series ever). But I have to say, I agree that X-Factor just hasn’t been up to par lately. I’m very glad you’re making an effort to change my opinion, because I used to love X-Factor, and I’m hoping to love it again soon. I will say that lately the store I work at has been selling out of X-Factor, so we’re increasing our orders some, and hopefully that’ll be a trend that continues.
Additionally, I would really like to see Layla Miller back! I think her leaving the book is when things started to go bad. Who would have ever thought her absence would have such an impact?
Luigi–yes, that’s it.
PAD
Thanks.
Looking forward to picking X-Factor again (starting with #39) after taking a few issues off. I was going to wait for the trade in order to see if the art would remain consistent, but what the heck . . .
Pardon me; I got back home at midnight last night and my brain isn’t fully functional yet.
X-Factor #38 looks like the kind of thing that’ll turn into a story the grown-ups tell the Sproglet when he’s a skeptical grade-schooler, which he assumes is a tall-tale. “On the day you were born…” says Uncle Guido, “your Mommy almost killed Dr. Cooper with her bare hands. Then she shielded Uncle Ric from a hail of bullets, and she flew herself and Dr. Cooper to the hospital, all while she was in labor with you!”
Which is to say that it was madly exciting to read.
Are we going to find out next issue just what Val’s motives toward X-Factor are? And, is X-Factor going to shake her off after that point?
Finally, dare I ask just what you have in mind with, “Madrox should have married you”? Is that why you’ve left the relationship status of Madrox and Siryn so ambiguous since the late 20s of the series? I recall you saying in an interview that they would discuss (or at least acknowledge) the issue or marriage in #39; so is this going to be a complicating factor, I take it? Have you had something in mind for her and Rictor since that moment in #5 where he carries her out of the theater?
I’m very happy to see Longshot again, and I would be rather disappointed to see him shunted off. His powers can be put to great use in a detective agency, which I think is what so inspired about the choice.
The art in X-Factor has suffered lately, but that’s always manageable. I’ve just picked up the first three trades and I’m throughly enjoying the book.
She Hulk… Well, I’ve ridden with you this long. and while it’s certainly not bad, it’s not really wowing me. Then again, not all things can all the time. It’s at times funny, and at times brooding, but, and maybe this is just being a man, but do all superheroines suffer crippling feelings of inadequacy and self doubt? I dunno, it’s beooming oppressive.
I’m very happy to see Longshot again, and I would be rather disappointed to see him shunted off. His powers can be put to great use in a detective agency, which I think is what so inspired about the choice.
The art in X-Factor has suffered lately, but that’s always manageable. I’ve just picked up the first three trades and I’m throughly enjoying the book.
She Hulk… Well, I’ve ridden with you this long. and while it’s certainly not bad, it’s not really wowing me. Then again, not all things can all the time. It’s at times funny, and at times brooding, but, and maybe this is just being a man, but do all superheroines suffer crippling feelings of inadequacy and self doubt? I dunno, it’s beooming oppressive.
hi,
I’m a huge fan of your work and ‘X-Factor’ especially.
Despite I must be one othe few persons on earth who appreciate the art of Larry Stroman ( with a good inker ), I have to say the new direction of ‘X-Factor’ is quite very interesting. It ain’t a classical super-heroes comic-book and I really enjoyed the way it constructed itself , his own living far from the MU other news, except for cross-overs, which is good.
I’m glad that , from what I read in Newsarama, you want to make the book really rise.
Having Longshot and Darwin, QuickSilver as well, give another touch of the ‘outsider-book effect’ I told you about, like ‘the Doom Patrol’, I just regret that Mutant Town hadn’t been more used.
Will we have a new bunch of Morlocks from the ruins of MutantTown ?
Will you dare what no one dares before :
Wanda and Pietro in an X-book ?
best,
ian-
hi,
I’m a huge fan of your work and ‘X-Factor’ especially.
Despite I must be one othe few persons on earth who appreciate the art of Larry Stroman ( with a good inker ), I have to say the new direction of ‘X-Factor’ is quite very interesting. It ain’t a classical super-heroes comic-book and I really enjoyed the way it constructed itself , his own living far from the MU other news, except for cross-overs, which is good.
I’m glad that , from what I read in Newsarama, you want to make the book really rise.
Having Longshot and Darwin, QuickSilver as well, give another touch of the ‘outsider-book effect’ I told you about, like ‘the Doom Patrol’, I just regret that Mutant Town hadn’t been more used.
Will we have a new bunch of Morlocks from the ruins of MutantTown ?
Will you dare what no one dares before :
Wanda and Pietro in an X-book ?
best,
ian-
hi,
I’m a huge fan of your work and ‘X-Factor’ especially.
Despite I must be one othe few persons on earth who appreciate the art of Larry Stroman ( with a good inker ), I have to say the new direction of ‘X-Factor’ is quite very interesting. It ain’t a classical super-heroes comic-book and I really enjoyed the way it constructed itself , his own living far from the MU other news, except for cross-overs, which is good.
I’m glad that , from what I read in Newsarama, you want to make the book really rise.
Having Longshot and Darwin, QuickSilver as well, give another touch of the ‘outsider-book effect’ I told you about, like ‘the Doom Patrol’, I just regret that Mutant Town hadn’t been more used.
Will we have a new bunch of Morlocks from the ruins of MutantTown ?
Will you dare what no one dares before :
Wanda and Pietro in an X-book ?
best,
ian-
I’m an X-books junkie anyways, but, PAD, you may feel things have dropped off a bit with X-Factor, but it’s still better than most of what’s being written right now. 🙂
I’m enjoying X-Factor, though I miss Layla Miller.
Peter,
No threats, but I do really want to see the return of Layla Miller. Strange, isn’t it. She was one of the most annoying parts of HOUSE OF M. You have made her into a great character.
As for SHE-HULK, it looks like they are dumping Jennifer for Thundra’s child when one looks at the recently released preview art. This is a shame as I really like the character. I just hope to see you penning a Lady Liberators series in the near future.
Really enjoyed the latest issue of She-Hulk. This is still my favorite Marvel book and I have really been bummed over the cancellation. And yeah, now it seems even worse if Jen is being cancled to launch a new character with the same name. That would really be rubbing salt in the wound !
I would love a She-Hulk & The Lady Liberators series from PAD !
Loving X-Factor, it’s been consistently at the end of my reading pile each month (which is good thing, I read the books from poor to best). I’d really love to see some of the hints about Madrox explored further as well, you’ve set up an intriguing angle on him it’d be a shame not to see it bear fruit.
She-Hulk – not as much to be honest, I know it’s traditionally been a fairly lightweight book, more focussed on fun and laughs, I’d hoped for you to bring some of your Incredible Hulk magic to this, so it never quite worked for me. Not enough dramatic weight to it for my tastes.
Even trying to deal with the weightier issues these last few books it has fallen a bit flat, because I think the book can’t really carry the tone.
Love all your other works, so it was inevitable there’d be something I didn’t like along the way!
Luigi Novi: I always assumed that Angel slept crouched on a perch.
That would have made things difficult for Betsy and Paige, wouldn’t it?
Luigi Novi: I always assumed that Angel slept crouched on a perch.
That would have made things difficult for Betsy and Paige, wouldn’t it?
PAD-
I know this is slightly off topic but will we
1) Ever see an Earth 616 version of Westlake from Wolverine: Election Day in X-Factor? I kinda liked him and thought his powers would be great for Jamie to try to recruit.
2) Will Pietro show up in the inevitable X-Factor War of Kings Crossover/Aftermath story?
3)If/when Alex and Lorna return to Earth– will we see them guest star?
4) Is the Fallen Angel from Soulsearchers and Company isn’t Lin’s predescessor is she? As much as I like both books it is a crossover that wouldn’t make much sense. (Especially since Soulsearcher world Sachs and Violins are comic/movie characters.)
Finally– for the second time I’m actually going to be buying a New Class title. Do you know the looks anyone over ten get at my comic store for that? Geez– are you trying to make look silly.
I am amazed with it. It is a good thing for my research. Thanks
Uhoh. The spambots are learning proper spelling and grammar.
(Edited by Kath: Yeah, I got rid of it. I know. We have been hit a lot this week. The number knocking on my web log is amazing.)
• 
Well, I already commented on it here. Said it would be too off-topic to comment on the talk of God in that thread but not here, so I’ll do that now.
You have one guy saying that this natural disaster was the will of God, and who are we mere mortals to say it’s not for the best? (The dictator.) You have another person saying that God isn’t doing anything to help, and has forsaken the people of Marinmer (the injured woman). You have another person saying that God must care because he sent the Liberators and the Guard, who were now helping (Valykrie). And finally you have the Red Guardian echoing my own opinion, which is this:
“You cannot conflate the indifference of nations and the randomness of nature and see in it a pattern of divine persecution.”
I suspect that God, if he exists, has nothing to do with this or with any disaster happening in the real world. Whether that means he’s forsaken everybody is another question. But what it comes down to is best summed up by another quote, this time from Futurama:
“You can’t count on God for jack. He pretty much told me so Himself.”
Now I brought up that quote in a theological discussion before and somebody else who was religious came back with another quote from the same episode, with this exchange…
GOD: Bender, being God isn’t easy, if you do too much, people get dependent. And if you do nothing, they lose hope. You have to use a light touch, like a safecracker or a pickpocket.
BENDER: Or a guy who burns down the bar for the insurance money.
GOD: Yes, if you make it look like an electrical thing. When you do things right, people won’t be sure you’ve done anything at all.
If that helps you maintain your faith in God, that he’s doing the best he can and that stopping things like earthquakes would make human beings too dependent on him, then okay. But I don’t see why that’d be such a bad thing; people get saved from burning buildings by firefighters all the time. Should firefighters not save them by that same logic, that people should not depend on another being–human or otherwise–and should instead learn to fend for themselves?
Anyway, you can’t count on God for jack, and that’s why it’s a good thing we’ve got heroes, both superhuman and normal, both on 616 and here.
Now as for the story, I just added a post to that thread earlier that I feel like including part of here. It says:
…I see the glass as half full. Because regardless of what happens to her next, she did manage to improve conditions in that country along with her teammates and the Winter Guard, and they did save a whole shitload of lives. Things are better than if they’d done nothing, even if it is only temporary. They managed to accomplish this without killing a single person as well. I call that a win.
I’ll try and post now while it looks like there’s only one post here so I won’t get spoiled immediately… I’m one of those people who enjoys the collected volumes, and in X-Factor’s case they’ve been coming out (in the UK, anyway) in a nice hardback version containing between 5 and 7 issues, and the fifth volume came out recently. What annoyed me about it was that volume four ended with X-Factor #24, and five started again at #28… explaining most of what happened inbetween, but not why what happened inbetween was absent from the volume at all.
Are issues #25-27 collected elsewhere, in relation to other stories (such as whatever Rayne was doing at the time, and whether the tattoo was supposed to be a continuation, a revelation or just a wha-the-he…)?
I’ll try and post now while it looks like there’s only one post here so I won’t get spoiled immediately… I’m one of those people who enjoys the collected volumes, and in X-Factor’s case they’ve been coming out (in the UK, anyway) in a nice hardback version containing between 5 and 7 issues, and the fifth volume came out recently. What annoyed me about it was that volume four ended with X-Factor #24, and five started again at #28… explaining most of what happened inbetween, but not why what happened inbetween was absent from the volume at all.
Are issues #25-27 collected elsewhere, in relation to other stories (such as whatever Rayne was doing at the time, and whether the tattoo was supposed to be a continuation, a revelation or just a wha-the-he…)?
Your She-Hulk vs genocide and rape story was intense, adult, powerful. Thank you for that. Also timely, dark, gritty. How many other words can I come up with that avoid my desperate, simple (perhaps simple-minded?) desire that this was an optimistic lighthearted book? I’ve bought lots of your books and comics and you are my hands down favorite writer of all time (sucking-up mode)… but this century you seem to have overwhelmed me with the dark side in all your books. I’m still buying it out of loyalty but it clearly made no difference. I’m very sorry it was cancelled. You deserve better. I mean, I can’t think of a funny, fast way to pull She-Hulk back to her better self after Civil War, either. You are to be commended for taking the character you were given and going in what seemed like a realistic direction. Unfortunate: I wasn’t reading this or any comic for realism. I just want to be happy. Yes, I want to think about important stuff; I don’t think I’m begging you to stupid it up, exactly. It’s just that there aren’t enough funny books designed for me anymore. Humor and optimism are vital to this character, the darkness of the material has overshadowed her inner light. The real world is upsetting, yes. But for $2.99 I want funny to triumph over horrible, not just stalemate. You know what? Never mind. You’re the writer, and I sure as hëll can’t outdo you. Most of your audience clearly doesn’t want whatever I want. Case in point: I think Spider-Man selling his marriage to the devil was a strange and awful choice for a hero. But Spidey didn’t tank after I stopped buying it. So really, who cares what I think? Adult, depressing material sells. Crappy worthless mindless material sells. Intelligent, worldly (if world-weary) She-Hulk is cancelled. Worst fan mail ever. Whatever I’m trying to say I hope it’s this: Bring back funny. Bring back hopeful. Bring the heroism of optimism. Bring on the new Doctor Who. Bring on the new president. Never give up. You rock.
Can I just ask what happened to Valentine De Landro, that we got a sudden fill-in of 4 pages of Stroman (who I didn’t mind) and Nelson (who I did, vehemently)?
Also out this week was Sir Apropos of Nothing #3.
I just read #2 last week (I’m a bit behind), and twice had to tell you to STOP IT! First, when the young woman says the line “A wonderful (etc.)” and again when she introduces herself to Apropos. STOP IT! I’m not supposed to LOL.
I enjoyed both books, Peter. I was nice seeing Nelson DiCastro doing interiors again, as I am not a regular Superman reader, and didn’t really follow his work inking over Byrne a while back. The story was good too.
I liked She-Hulk, and I’m really irritated that it’s being cancelled. Was this the last issue? If not, which one will be?
I probably say the same thing every month, but X-Factor is consistently one of the best reads I buy.
It’s engaging, it makes you think, it makes you care about the characters. Nothing more I can ask for out of $2.99 🙂
I feel like X-Factor needs . . . well, a point to it, other than “mutants in Detroit.”
Hey, didn’t another one of your books come out on Friday?
I like to wait a week or so for people to actually have bought and read something.
PAD
I really liked X-factor. I love every issue of She-Hulk you’ve done as always. and of course its canceled 🙁
Mr. David will you ever write for the Hulk series again I’m sure you could fix that train wreck
I liked she-hulk alot. I have been not been the biggist fan of your run as ive said but it was a nice change to have a grey ending the heroes don’t quite win but thee don’t quite lose very much like real life. i still hate Jaz she comes across as somone who has a unrequited crush.
“Are issues #25-27 collected elsewhere”
Those issues are part of the Messiah Complex crossover which were collected in the Messiah Complex HC (and now TPB):
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0785128999
“Hey, didn’t another one of your books come out on Friday?”
Amazon started shipping the new Star Trek Mirror Universe anthology with a New Frontier story by PAD last week.
Corey
1’m way behind in my comic book reading, but I finally roused myself to read She-Hulk #36. Peter David did a good job raising some thorny issues in this storyline, which is partly based on the cyclone which hit Burma last May. (Cyclones are the same as hurricanes, but occur in the Indian Ocean, not the Atlantic.) The ruling junta refused humanitarian aid from Western countries. It’s not a coincidence that the fictional country in this story is “Marinmer” and the official name of Burma is “Myanmar.”
It would have been very easy to paint the Winter Guard as bad guys, but I can easily see a situation where the U.S. government might send the (Mighty) Avengers to do the same thing. I liked the conversation between the Marinmer woman, the Red Guardian, and Valkyrie. (Speaking of Valkyrie, does she actually live in Asgard? I had the impression that the current Val is Samantha Parrington who has a civilian alter ego. Maybe I’m wrong, though.)
I also like the way PAD achieved a realistic happy ending for the story. The President-for-life doesn’t get killed, but he does get his just desserts at the very end.
My biggest criticism is the coloring by Barbara Ciardo. When Jennifer is locked up in prison, I did not realize she had reverted to human form until I read PAD’s dialogue. I know that a jail is not very brightly lit, but it shouldn’t be that difficult to tell.
Finally, I’m sorry if my malaise has made PAD feel unappreciated for the work he has done in writing She-Hulk. Speaking for myself, and as an admirer of Peter David’s work for both Supergirl and Fallen Angel, I am very grateful to him for the past two years.
You’re a fûçkìņg hack, i think I’ll be burning my YJ trades thanks to your batshit insane fascist pro-israel stance.
I didn’t read either of them, so I will hold off on any suggestions about your talent, morality, sanity or parentage.
Did not get the comics this week due to UPS mistake, so Austin Texas is one week behind. They are doubling up this Wed.
Dear She Hulk,
2 quick questions and a statement. I notice that when you are She Hulk your hair is much longer than when you are Jen Walters. So if Jen shaved her head or cut her hair very short would your hair stay the same length or change with Jens new style?
Do you know if Angel from the Xmen sleeps only on his stomach? With those wings I would assume so.
Also please stop throwing random cars at people. You had a fight with Monet from X Factor and threw my car at her. The car was totalled and inside was a birthday gift for my son who turned 12. I got him a bootleg DVD of the Bionic Six cartoon. It was destroyed and I blame you.
Corey: thanks.
Corey: thanks.
Peter, is the Heroes in Training anthology to which you contributed an Apropos story the one edited by Martin H. Greenberg and Jim C. Hines? I ask, because that’s what I found on Amazon, but don’t see any mention of your name or Apropos, and want to make sure I got the right one.
Thanks for mentioning the new anthology, Corey.
Chris: Do you know if Angel from the Xmen sleeps only on his stomach? With those wings I would assume so.
Luigi Novi: I always assumed that Angel slept crouched on a perch.
I don’t usually comment, I’m more of a PAD blog reader, but I wanted to comment after just reading your, well, non-interview interview about X-Factor at Newsarama. I’m a big fan of a lot of your stuff (Young Justice remains one of my all-time favorite series ever). But I have to say, I agree that X-Factor just hasn’t been up to par lately. I’m very glad you’re making an effort to change my opinion, because I used to love X-Factor, and I’m hoping to love it again soon. I will say that lately the store I work at has been selling out of X-Factor, so we’re increasing our orders some, and hopefully that’ll be a trend that continues.
Additionally, I would really like to see Layla Miller back! I think her leaving the book is when things started to go bad. Who would have ever thought her absence would have such an impact?
Luigi–yes, that’s it.
PAD
Thanks.
Looking forward to picking X-Factor again (starting with #39) after taking a few issues off. I was going to wait for the trade in order to see if the art would remain consistent, but what the heck . . .
Pardon me; I got back home at midnight last night and my brain isn’t fully functional yet.
X-Factor #38 looks like the kind of thing that’ll turn into a story the grown-ups tell the Sproglet when he’s a skeptical grade-schooler, which he assumes is a tall-tale. “On the day you were born…” says Uncle Guido, “your Mommy almost killed Dr. Cooper with her bare hands. Then she shielded Uncle Ric from a hail of bullets, and she flew herself and Dr. Cooper to the hospital, all while she was in labor with you!”
Which is to say that it was madly exciting to read.
Are we going to find out next issue just what Val’s motives toward X-Factor are? And, is X-Factor going to shake her off after that point?
Finally, dare I ask just what you have in mind with, “Madrox should have married you”? Is that why you’ve left the relationship status of Madrox and Siryn so ambiguous since the late 20s of the series? I recall you saying in an interview that they would discuss (or at least acknowledge) the issue or marriage in #39; so is this going to be a complicating factor, I take it? Have you had something in mind for her and Rictor since that moment in #5 where he carries her out of the theater?
I’m very happy to see Longshot again, and I would be rather disappointed to see him shunted off. His powers can be put to great use in a detective agency, which I think is what so inspired about the choice.
The art in X-Factor has suffered lately, but that’s always manageable. I’ve just picked up the first three trades and I’m throughly enjoying the book.
She Hulk… Well, I’ve ridden with you this long. and while it’s certainly not bad, it’s not really wowing me. Then again, not all things can all the time. It’s at times funny, and at times brooding, but, and maybe this is just being a man, but do all superheroines suffer crippling feelings of inadequacy and self doubt? I dunno, it’s beooming oppressive.
I’m very happy to see Longshot again, and I would be rather disappointed to see him shunted off. His powers can be put to great use in a detective agency, which I think is what so inspired about the choice.
The art in X-Factor has suffered lately, but that’s always manageable. I’ve just picked up the first three trades and I’m throughly enjoying the book.
She Hulk… Well, I’ve ridden with you this long. and while it’s certainly not bad, it’s not really wowing me. Then again, not all things can all the time. It’s at times funny, and at times brooding, but, and maybe this is just being a man, but do all superheroines suffer crippling feelings of inadequacy and self doubt? I dunno, it’s beooming oppressive.
hi,
I’m a huge fan of your work and ‘X-Factor’ especially.
Despite I must be one othe few persons on earth who appreciate the art of Larry Stroman ( with a good inker ), I have to say the new direction of ‘X-Factor’ is quite very interesting. It ain’t a classical super-heroes comic-book and I really enjoyed the way it constructed itself , his own living far from the MU other news, except for cross-overs, which is good.
I’m glad that , from what I read in Newsarama, you want to make the book really rise.
Having Longshot and Darwin, QuickSilver as well, give another touch of the ‘outsider-book effect’ I told you about, like ‘the Doom Patrol’, I just regret that Mutant Town hadn’t been more used.
Will we have a new bunch of Morlocks from the ruins of MutantTown ?
Will you dare what no one dares before :
Wanda and Pietro in an X-book ?
best,
ian-
hi,
I’m a huge fan of your work and ‘X-Factor’ especially.
Despite I must be one othe few persons on earth who appreciate the art of Larry Stroman ( with a good inker ), I have to say the new direction of ‘X-Factor’ is quite very interesting. It ain’t a classical super-heroes comic-book and I really enjoyed the way it constructed itself , his own living far from the MU other news, except for cross-overs, which is good.
I’m glad that , from what I read in Newsarama, you want to make the book really rise.
Having Longshot and Darwin, QuickSilver as well, give another touch of the ‘outsider-book effect’ I told you about, like ‘the Doom Patrol’, I just regret that Mutant Town hadn’t been more used.
Will we have a new bunch of Morlocks from the ruins of MutantTown ?
Will you dare what no one dares before :
Wanda and Pietro in an X-book ?
best,
ian-
hi,
I’m a huge fan of your work and ‘X-Factor’ especially.
Despite I must be one othe few persons on earth who appreciate the art of Larry Stroman ( with a good inker ), I have to say the new direction of ‘X-Factor’ is quite very interesting. It ain’t a classical super-heroes comic-book and I really enjoyed the way it constructed itself , his own living far from the MU other news, except for cross-overs, which is good.
I’m glad that , from what I read in Newsarama, you want to make the book really rise.
Having Longshot and Darwin, QuickSilver as well, give another touch of the ‘outsider-book effect’ I told you about, like ‘the Doom Patrol’, I just regret that Mutant Town hadn’t been more used.
Will we have a new bunch of Morlocks from the ruins of MutantTown ?
Will you dare what no one dares before :
Wanda and Pietro in an X-book ?
best,
ian-
I’m an X-books junkie anyways, but, PAD, you may feel things have dropped off a bit with X-Factor, but it’s still better than most of what’s being written right now. 🙂
I’m enjoying X-Factor, though I miss Layla Miller.
Peter,
No threats, but I do really want to see the return of Layla Miller. Strange, isn’t it. She was one of the most annoying parts of HOUSE OF M. You have made her into a great character.
As for SHE-HULK, it looks like they are dumping Jennifer for Thundra’s child when one looks at the recently released preview art. This is a shame as I really like the character. I just hope to see you penning a Lady Liberators series in the near future.
Really enjoyed the latest issue of She-Hulk. This is still my favorite Marvel book and I have really been bummed over the cancellation. And yeah, now it seems even worse if Jen is being cancled to launch a new character with the same name. That would really be rubbing salt in the wound !
I would love a She-Hulk & The Lady Liberators series from PAD !
Loving X-Factor, it’s been consistently at the end of my reading pile each month (which is good thing, I read the books from poor to best). I’d really love to see some of the hints about Madrox explored further as well, you’ve set up an intriguing angle on him it’d be a shame not to see it bear fruit.
She-Hulk – not as much to be honest, I know it’s traditionally been a fairly lightweight book, more focussed on fun and laughs, I’d hoped for you to bring some of your Incredible Hulk magic to this, so it never quite worked for me. Not enough dramatic weight to it for my tastes.
Even trying to deal with the weightier issues these last few books it has fallen a bit flat, because I think the book can’t really carry the tone.
Love all your other works, so it was inevitable there’d be something I didn’t like along the way!
Luigi Novi: I always assumed that Angel slept crouched on a perch.
That would have made things difficult for Betsy and Paige, wouldn’t it?
Luigi Novi: I always assumed that Angel slept crouched on a perch.
That would have made things difficult for Betsy and Paige, wouldn’t it?
PAD-
I know this is slightly off topic but will we
1) Ever see an Earth 616 version of Westlake from Wolverine: Election Day in X-Factor? I kinda liked him and thought his powers would be great for Jamie to try to recruit.
2) Will Pietro show up in the inevitable X-Factor War of Kings Crossover/Aftermath story?
3)If/when Alex and Lorna return to Earth– will we see them guest star?
4) Is the Fallen Angel from Soulsearchers and Company isn’t Lin’s predescessor is she? As much as I like both books it is a crossover that wouldn’t make much sense. (Especially since Soulsearcher world Sachs and Violins are comic/movie characters.)
Finally– for the second time I’m actually going to be buying a New Class title. Do you know the looks anyone over ten get at my comic store for that? Geez– are you trying to make look silly.
I am amazed with it. It is a good thing for my research. Thanks
Uhoh. The spambots are learning proper spelling and grammar.
(Edited by Kath: Yeah, I got rid of it. I know. We have been hit a lot this week. The number knocking on my web log is amazing.)