All Articles

There is something inviting about the way Ultimate Spider Man (2000) 32 establishes its world, its conflict and its emotional temperature with very little fuss. The issue was published on 5 February 2003 as part of Ultimate Spider Man, with PUBLIC SCRUTINY PART providing the clearest point of entry. Its premise connects Captain Stacy with questions of truth and suspicion. That combination gives the opening a purpose beyond simply announcing another adventure. ⁠ Ultimate Spide

Star Wars: Empire (2002) 5 is the kind of issue that makes an old publication date feel less important than the energy waiting on the first page. The issue was published on 5 February 2003 as part of Star Wars: Empire, with Star Wars providing the clearest point of entry. Its premise connects Episode IV A with questions of duty and courage. That combination gives the opening a purpose beyond simply announcing another adventure. ⁠ Star Wars: Empire (2002) 5 builds tension by m

Reading Punisher (2001) 21 as part of Marvel's wider catalogue reveals an issue with a clear personality and a surprisingly immediate sense of purpose. The issue was published on 5 February 2003 as part of Punisher, with BROTHERHOOD PART TWO providing the clearest point of entry. Its premise connects Mike with questions of duty and courage. That combination gives the opening a purpose beyond simply announcing another adventure. ⁠ Punisher (2001) 21 builds tension by making ea

Exiles (2001) 20 opens the door to a distinct corner of Marvel history rather than feeling like a catalogue entry that should be admired from a distance. The issue was published on 5 February 2003 as part of Exiles, with LEGACY PART ONE providing the clearest point of entry. Its premise connects Legacy Virus with questions of courage and justice. That combination gives the opening a purpose beyond simply announcing another adventure. ⁠ Exiles (2001) 20 builds tension by makin

Elektra (2001) 18 provides an enjoyable reminder that Marvel history is built from individual issues with their own rhythms, risks and small surprises. The issue was published on 2 February 2003 as part of Elektra, with Elektra providing the clearest point of entry. Its premise connects the supporting cast with questions of identity and responsibility. That combination gives the opening a purpose beyond simply announcing another adventure. ⁠ Story momentum in Elektra (2001) 1

What first stands out about X Treme X Men: X Pose (2003) 2 is not its age or collectable status, but the directness with which it asks the reader to enter the story. The issue was published on 1 February 2003 as part of X Treme X Men: X Pose, with Gambit providing the clearest point of entry. Its premise connects the supporting cast with questions of identity and responsibility. That combination gives the opening a purpose beyond simply announcing another adventure. ⁠ Story m

X Treme X Men: Mekanix (2001) 5 arrives with the confidence of a comic that knows spectacle matters most when the people inside it have something meaningful to lose. The issue was published on 1 February 2003 as part of X Treme X Men: Mekanix, with Shola Inkosi providing the clearest point of entry. Its premise connects Karma with questions of identity and responsibility. That combination gives the opening a purpose beyond simply announcing another adventure. ⁠ Story momentum

A strong comic issue should offer a reason to care before the machinery of the plot takes over, and X Treme X Men Vol. II (Trade Paperback) understands that principle. The issue was published on 1 February 2003 as part of X Treme X Men, with X Treme providing the clearest point of entry. Its premise connects Earth with questions of duty and courage. That combination gives the opening a purpose beyond simply announcing another adventure. ⁠ Story momentum in X Treme X Men Vol.

There is something inviting about the way X Statix (2002) 6 establishes its world, its conflict and its emotional temperature with very little fuss. The issue was published on 1 February 2003 as part of X Statix, with BAD GUY providing the clearest point of entry. Its premise connects Guy Smith with questions of duty and courage. That combination gives the opening a purpose beyond simply announcing another adventure. ⁠ Story momentum in X Statix (2002) 6 comes from the gap be

Wolverine: Netsuke (2002) 4 is the kind of issue that makes an old publication date feel less important than the energy waiting on the first page. The issue was published on 1 February 2003 as part of Wolverine: Netsuke, with Mariko Yashida providing the clearest point of entry. Its premise connects Logan’s Feudal Japanese with questions of identity and responsibility. That combination gives the opening a purpose beyond simply announcing another adventure. ⁠ Story momentum in

Reading Wolverine (1988) 184 as part of Marvel's wider catalogue reveals an issue with a clear personality and a surprisingly immediate sense of purpose. The issue was published on 1 February 2003 as part of Wolverine, with Wolverine providing the clearest point of entry. Its premise connects the supporting cast with questions of identity and responsibility. That combination gives the opening a purpose beyond simply announcing another adventure. ⁠ Story momentum in Wolverine

Weapon X (2002) 4 opens the door to a distinct corner of Marvel history rather than feeling like a catalogue entry that should be admired from a distance. The issue was published on 1 February 2003 as part of Weapon X, with Wild Child providing the clearest point of entry. Its premise connects Director with questions of identity and responsibility. That combination gives the opening a purpose beyond simply announcing another adventure. ⁠ Story momentum in Weapon X (2002) 4 co