Superhero Times: a service of Action Online
For a great selection of superhero action figures and collectibles, check out fine retailers BigBadToyStore.com, CornerStoreComics.com, WhiteWizardToys.com, ToyWiz.com, ToyRocket.com, Alter Ego Comics, HobbyLinkJapan.com, StatueToys.com, MayBang.com, HEO.com, Urban-Collector.com, and Elm Street Online.
For a great selection of superhero and pop culture apparel, check out TShirtGurus.com and 80sTees.com.
X-Men: First Class is one of those books that have really done a lot to fill in the gaps between the early adventures of the first class of Professor X’s merry mutants, The X-Men. First Class Issue 11 isn’t one of those tales. In the story, actually titled ‘Cannon’; writer Jeff Parker and artist Nick Dragotta, have weaved an interesting tale in which Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl and Professor X are called into action when it seems every villain ever has descended upon New York! What is really happening though is very stranger than a simple explanation. It seems that three teenagers who once worked for a local comic book shop had a Wednesday shipment delayed and had to get a rush shipment from a Diamond shipping facility in the Everglades. And this shipping facility somehow was situated on a rift in time and space and these teens received advanced comics from OUR Earth.
Because of these books, they were able to see what the future held for the superheroes of the Marvel Universe, and so they brought it upon themselves to become a group calling themselves The Continuiteens! But after causing the death of Dr. Blake at the hands of Fing Fang Foom and Thor never being born, they decided to retire. The Villains descent changes all of that though. They are banded back together, and are forced to contact Xavier’s Mansion to get some help with the problem.
But Mysterio has different plans for our heroes, and the outcome of this very strange tale really left us chuckling in our seats.
Parker and Dragotta have really handled a fun comical tale. Although I have never been a big fan of this series, some of the tales have been very well done, and this is one of those tales. Dragotta handles the art very well here. It very cool because at one point it goes from a very modern style to a style straight out of the Kirby days of Marvel Comics. A very nice little touch as the Continuiteens tells their origin tale to the X-Men. Parker writing here is very loose and fun. Nothing really seems forced at all, and the tale itself is a lot of fun!
Overall, I can’t say I would recommend this one to you out there unless you are already picking up the book on a monthly basis. But it’s a fun tale and if you have some extra cash, then you might want to pick it up and have a good chuckle!