Inane Discussion Eight:

Peblee: Let’s do Phoenix: Endsong. That’s confusing and weird.

Fumanchu: I like the series a lot, but I think it’s a crime that Justin Ponzor, the colorist, didn’t make it on the cover because he is obviously the most talented person involved in this book.

Peblee: Noooo! Come on, man, the colorist?! He’s good, but he probably just uses Photoshop. How can you say he’s better than Greg Land who pencils this stuff?

Fumanchu: Okay, he’s not more talented than Greg Land; but, you know, there a ton of colorists out there who use Photoshop, but their stuff doesn’t look this good.

Peblee: True. So, what of the story? Jean froze herself. So, like Han Solo, they will be able to bring her back to life, but only after they sell her to Jabba.

Fumanchu: I don’t think she really froze herself. I think it was just a trick of the Phoenix.

Peblee: I think the good-uniformed Jean simply tried to kill herself to stop the Phoenix, but the Phoenix separated from her before she froze.

Fumanchu: I think the good-uniform was a trick, too.

Peblee: No! It wasn’t a trick. It was just bad luck.

Fumanchu: So why does the Phoenix turn into Jean in the last scene?

Peblee: It isn’t Jean. It’s just fire that made itself look like Jean in a very sexy manner.

Fumanchu: So, it wants Scott to shoot it, and then it wants to go find Quentin Quire.

Peblee: Yes. Or at least that is the aliens theory. I don’t know why it needs to get shot by Scott, though. That is kind of silly.

Fumanchu: I don’t know. Maybe it is just going to get the blast from Scott, kill all of the X-Men, and then go find Quentin.

Peblee: You know what I have never read? Anything previously that focused on Quentin Quire. I mean the X-types haven’t really been my thing in the past.

Fumanchu: No. He’s been in the story before because he goes along with those Psychic triplets.

Peblee: You know I think this story fully tries to comply with the paradigms of Astonishing X-Men. It doesn’t really fit with the other X-books.

Fumanchu: I’ve got Kiddy Pride, and Nightcrawler too, waiting there for me, yes I do.

Peblee: I think Storm looks a lot better in this one. She was ugly in the last issue; like, beaten with a stick, ugly.

Fumanchu: Like Ted Kennedy ugly?

Peblee: Exactly. You know, when you’re right, you’re right.

Fumanchu: You know I really like the team that is working on this book. Obviously Greg Pak, Greg Land, Justin Ponsor, and Matt Ryan are at the top of their respective games, but don’t you think Jean has had enough? Don’t you think that horse has been beaten?

Peblee: Yeah. She has died a million times.

Fumanchu: Either kill her and let her be, or bring her back and let her be a normal character.

Peblee: She could even be dead and haunt memories, but I am tired of her coming back, getting killed and coming back and getting killed. Then, coming back, becoming a main X-Man once more, only to die, become the Phoenix and return as an enemy. You’re right, it’s kind of old. Let’s move on. Seven Soldiers of Victory?

Fumanchu: I thought it was tragic. I don’t understand how they are going to have another episode.

Peblee: They’re not. It’s just the start of a bunch of other comics, like The Guardian, and Shining Knight. Those books are coming out this month.

Fumanchu: Why is it Seven Soldiers of Victory #0? Why wasn’t it just Seven Soldiers of Victory one-shot?

Peblee: I don’t know. I think it is just there to set up a bunch of other comics by Grant Morrison.

Fumanchu: Well, in the book they mention another seven possible soldiers, so I wonder if they are going to get a group that can actually cut it.

Peblee: What group can cut it against that group of seven mystery guys? They seem to have the whole world in their hands.

Fumanchu: Yeah, I know, except for Miracle Mesa, and that town from the movie, Yellow Submarine.

Peblee: The town was funny looking. But, there were some bad dudes that came out of it.

Fumanchu: Yes there were. There was even a Black Mask-ish kind of guy, who I believe would have the real Black Mask wetting his black underpants.

Peblee: I want to say something. This story was refreshing, cool, and I just have a lot of hopes put into it now.

Fumanchu: What was up with the beginning and I, Spyder?

Peblee: I don’t know. I mean, what did they do to him? Did they just set him up to die at Miracle Mesa?

Fumanchu: Well, what powers did he have beforehand because he was given a bunch by those mystery men.

Peblee: I don’t know, maybe none since everyone in the book was the most sub-level, moronic, z-list hero.

Fumanchu: They were all like, descendants of b-list heroes, and the one guy even just bought his power rings from a b-list hero. Talk about a group of losers. And, there were only six of them. Clarion the Witchboy was supposed to be there, I thought.

Peblee: Yes, and he is one character who is going to have his own comic, which I believe starts next month.

Fumanchu: Oh! So, he was smart enough not to show up, and eat it. That way he can star in his own book.

Peblee: Yep. You know, I applaud this book. Of course, I will have to see what comes out in these follow on books, but I really liked this book, big-time. And it is the best comic that I have read, as far as, making my mind wander, keeping me thinking about possibilities, tragedies, conspiracies, and the probable death and destruction of all that we know and love.

Fumanchu: Except, the gods at Miracle Mesa, it seems, cannot go very far. It’s almost as if, the seven dudes are picking fights with them when they don’t have to.

Peblee: Yeah. Why did the spider have to lure the six back to the mesa? Why couldn’t the gods just leave the dessert and commence to killin?

Fumanchu: I mean, they talk about an eminent threat, but then the gods have to have the heroes brought to them. Maybe the mysterious seven dudes just want to beat up on some gods for fun. Or, maybe Miracle Mesa is the eminent threat. Regardless, why the heck would you send a team of losers to fight the gods?

Peblee: Can we mention Conan really fast?

Fumanchu: Yes.

Peblee: Conan is the best book out there right now.

Fumanchu: I definitely think it is the best comic out.

Peblee: Janissa is the best comic girl out right now.

Fumanchu: She is rough, tough, and bad.

Peblee: You know what I love about all three comics that we spoke about today? Wolverine is only on the cover of the book he stars in.