Marcus To

The multiple series relaunches over the past few years gives me the impression that Marvel is struggling to keep Shang-Chi a viable comic book property. This limited series cashes in on the Ten Rings from the recent movie title and sweeps aside most of the supporting cast from Gene Luen Yang's previous volumes to bring back Shang-Chi's MI-6 secret agent buddies from the original series. There is even a deadly contest, à la Hunger Games to see who will take possession of the Ten Rings.

All the above kept my interest through the book, and I had hopes it would lure in others so we'd get another Shang-Chi book next year, but I see online that the one-shot special included at the end of this collection is supposed to be the final issue of Yang's run on the title. It's far from satisfying, but at least Yang got a chance to bring some of his story elements full circle in what amounts to an epilogue instead of a real conclusion.… (more)

I'm one of the rare few who didn't actually like the big X-Men reboot event House of X/Powers of X. I liked the conceit, I just didn't care for the execution.

So Excalibur was a bit of a gamble, I picked the run that seemed like the most fun. And it totally was.

Betsy Braddock is no longer Psylocke and not really sure who she is. She leaves her non-mutant twin brother, Brian Braddock aka Captain Britain, at home with his wife and child and enters the new mutant homeland of Krakoa. Otherworld-ly shenanigans ensue. Betsy takes on the Captain Britain mantle from Brian, Rogue does a Snow White, and Rictor discovers some fellow Earthbenders druids who welcome him as one of them.

Most important: Jubilee's accidentally adopted baby Shogo is still here and he turns into a dragon in the Otherworld. Absolutely what I wanted in a X-Men comic.… (more)