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Avengers (1963) #368-369
Avengers/X-men: Bloodties
It drew in the Avengers, Earth's mightiest super heroes, protectors of humanity, and the X-Men, uncanny mutants sworn to preserve mutantkind. The conflict was further inflamed by Exodus, acolyte of Magneto, who sought to purify Magneto's family line by killing his two children, Quickslver and the Scarlet Witch, and Luna, his grandchild.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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99 people want to read
About the author
Bob Harras
396 books12 followersRobert "Bob" Harras (born January 11, 1959) is an American comics writer and editor, who was editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics from 1995 to 2000 and currently serves as editor-in-chief of DC Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 4, 2023
The Bloodties crossover is an immediate sequel to Fatal Attractions, with the fallout from Magneto’s attack on the world being sufficiently a big deal enough to involve the Avengers.
It was 1993, the 30th anniversary of both premier super teams, and for a while the X-Men had been doing their thing without much contact in the rest of the Marvel Universe. It was a good time for one of these crossovers.
Genosha was in bloody civil war, which is a shame. If the country represents South Africa, then what does it say when a civil war is written in after freeing the oppressed mutants? It’s something of a “ripped from the headlines” approach, but an unfortunate take.
(And, since it’s a fictional place, it’s always easier to write an extreme dystopia. Grant Morrison’s E for Extinction would be even worse on Genosha, though that’s years later.)
Fabian Cortez, the Ramsay Bolton of mutantdom, is so sleazy here. He kidnaps Luna, the daughter of Quicksilver and granddaughter of Magneto, and kills everyone to take over. I suppose he would be the anti-Mandela in this scenario.
Then Nick Fury and SHIELD forbid the Avengers from interfering, as Luna is also the daughter of the Inhuman member Crystal in one of those complex superhero family trees, and the Avengers disobey orders to do the right thing because that’s always how these stories go.
The Avengers writer then, Bob Harras, also happened to be the X-Men editor at the time. The story is organized smoothly, and Steve Epting’s art is excellent in the years before he became the classic Winter Soldier artist in the aughts. The best part of this would have to be Andy Kubert drawing Captain America, it’s so epic.
This wasn’t the most popular time for the Avengers, far before the blockbuster films. Some of the designs age badly, like how they seemed to be desperately copying X-Men/Image style with some of their costumes like Hercules. And what’s with the jackets everyone wore back then?
Another thing: Exodus was a main antagonist in this story, who does come across as an Avengers-level threat, and more than a little evil. It’s kind of weird that he’s in the Krakoan council now but he’s far from the only reformed villain in the current status quo.
Well, it’s a product of its time, yet if you’d like to read an Avengers and X-Men crossover in one sitting then one can’t go wrong with these five chapters. Not as much commitment as the latter mega events Avengers vs X-Men and Judgment Day. Just the right amount of tragedy and action, a successful reminder of why we love crossovers.
It was 1993, the 30th anniversary of both premier super teams, and for a while the X-Men had been doing their thing without much contact in the rest of the Marvel Universe. It was a good time for one of these crossovers.
Genosha was in bloody civil war, which is a shame. If the country represents South Africa, then what does it say when a civil war is written in after freeing the oppressed mutants? It’s something of a “ripped from the headlines” approach, but an unfortunate take.
(And, since it’s a fictional place, it’s always easier to write an extreme dystopia. Grant Morrison’s E for Extinction would be even worse on Genosha, though that’s years later.)
Fabian Cortez, the Ramsay Bolton of mutantdom, is so sleazy here. He kidnaps Luna, the daughter of Quicksilver and granddaughter of Magneto, and kills everyone to take over. I suppose he would be the anti-Mandela in this scenario.
Then Nick Fury and SHIELD forbid the Avengers from interfering, as Luna is also the daughter of the Inhuman member Crystal in one of those complex superhero family trees, and the Avengers disobey orders to do the right thing because that’s always how these stories go.
The Avengers writer then, Bob Harras, also happened to be the X-Men editor at the time. The story is organized smoothly, and Steve Epting’s art is excellent in the years before he became the classic Winter Soldier artist in the aughts. The best part of this would have to be Andy Kubert drawing Captain America, it’s so epic.
This wasn’t the most popular time for the Avengers, far before the blockbuster films. Some of the designs age badly, like how they seemed to be desperately copying X-Men/Image style with some of their costumes like Hercules. And what’s with the jackets everyone wore back then?
Another thing: Exodus was a main antagonist in this story, who does come across as an Avengers-level threat, and more than a little evil. It’s kind of weird that he’s in the Krakoan council now but he’s far from the only reformed villain in the current status quo.
Well, it’s a product of its time, yet if you’d like to read an Avengers and X-Men crossover in one sitting then one can’t go wrong with these five chapters. Not as much commitment as the latter mega events Avengers vs X-Men and Judgment Day. Just the right amount of tragedy and action, a successful reminder of why we love crossovers.
November 7, 2020
Surprisingly good. A bit breathless but a lot of interesting angles. Unlike the last crossover only noticed a couple of continuity errors.
It could have had a bit more resolution too but overall pretty good stuff.
It could have had a bit more resolution too but overall pretty good stuff.
August 14, 2019
Can't say I liked anything about this crossover. Super wordy, terrible art, and ultimately pointless.
October 17, 2020
Newest review: I actually think this story suffers for not being long enough. Now that doesn’t mean they needed to stretch out the slim few stories they had. No, instead they needed to develop this more along the lines of X-Tinction Agenda and go full in with the crossover. While there are some important conflicts here, it never seems to live up to this significance.
Original review: To celebrate joint 30th anniversaries back in 1993, the Marvel powers-that-be decided to do a crossover event between their two big groups: the Avengers and the X-Men. This follows up on the events from Fatal Attractions and goes across the two X-Men books and the two Avengers books. As the cover picture likely tells it has to do with Magneto it just doesn't have Magneto himself in it. Well that's not true, he drools a little...
It isn't a terrible venture, but it is pretty dependent on events that came before it. This is where they first start making something of Exodus, but they introduce more mystery than they answer. Genosha gets torn apart again.
The editors fall down on the job some going between the different books. They don't match up well all the time. It is hard to know who is truly responsible for the story and which of the writers is just scripting their books. I am still preferring Lobdell (Uncanny) over his peers (now that Peter David is not in my reading list).
As for art duties, there's Steve Epting on Avengers, Andy Kubert on X-Men, Dave Ross on Avengers West Coast, and John Romita Jr. on Uncanny. It is a funny revelation to me to see Steve Epting's name here. He is probably the artist style I most associate with the Avengers but it isn't exactly good. However I didn't know his name before, only to now realize he's the fellow doing Cap right now and getting plenty of acclaim alongside Mr. Brubaker. I take he's improved some. Andy Kubert is Andy Kubert. This book makes him look better, but I still don't care for him. Dave Ross brings back some good memories for me, but his art is a tad inconsistent. There's elements of his style I like... but the whole package needs some work. Romita is the same as always. I can't figure out if I like him, hate him, or just don't care. I do know I don't like his Beast.
Anyways, I'd only recommend this book if you've read Fatal Attractions and perhaps X-Tinction Agenda to get the Genosha background. It ain't fantastic but it ain't like eating rocks either.
Original review: To celebrate joint 30th anniversaries back in 1993, the Marvel powers-that-be decided to do a crossover event between their two big groups: the Avengers and the X-Men. This follows up on the events from Fatal Attractions and goes across the two X-Men books and the two Avengers books. As the cover picture likely tells it has to do with Magneto it just doesn't have Magneto himself in it. Well that's not true, he drools a little...
It isn't a terrible venture, but it is pretty dependent on events that came before it. This is where they first start making something of Exodus, but they introduce more mystery than they answer. Genosha gets torn apart again.
The editors fall down on the job some going between the different books. They don't match up well all the time. It is hard to know who is truly responsible for the story and which of the writers is just scripting their books. I am still preferring Lobdell (Uncanny) over his peers (now that Peter David is not in my reading list).
As for art duties, there's Steve Epting on Avengers, Andy Kubert on X-Men, Dave Ross on Avengers West Coast, and John Romita Jr. on Uncanny. It is a funny revelation to me to see Steve Epting's name here. He is probably the artist style I most associate with the Avengers but it isn't exactly good. However I didn't know his name before, only to now realize he's the fellow doing Cap right now and getting plenty of acclaim alongside Mr. Brubaker. I take he's improved some. Andy Kubert is Andy Kubert. This book makes him look better, but I still don't care for him. Dave Ross brings back some good memories for me, but his art is a tad inconsistent. There's elements of his style I like... but the whole package needs some work. Romita is the same as always. I can't figure out if I like him, hate him, or just don't care. I do know I don't like his Beast.
Anyways, I'd only recommend this book if you've read Fatal Attractions and perhaps X-Tinction Agenda to get the Genosha background. It ain't fantastic but it ain't like eating rocks either.
April 27, 2021
As the island nation of Genosha is torn apart by civil war between its racially divided population of humans and mutates, both the Avengers and X-Men defy to orders of the UN and S.H.I.E.L.D. to intervene. However they become embroiled in a battle between the acolytes of Magneto, Exodus and Cortez, who plan to use the daughter of Crystal and Quicksilver to advance their agendas.
What I really liked about this book was the way it dealt with the titular super-teams having to take a long hard look at where their political obligations conflict with their desire and duty to protect the innocent.
For the X-Men, already mostly on the wrong side of the law, it means having to fight against the mutates that they once liberated in order to protect Genosha's humans from genocide. On the other hand, the Avengers find themselves hampered by their UN mandate and deciding that going rogue is better than stepping aside and allowing mass slaughter (it's a theme nicely explored in the MCU in 'Captain America: Civil War' too).
And woven through the larger conflict is the complex legacy of Magneto, supervillain, arch-enemy and sometime ally of the X-Men and father of two Avengers.
For me this book's one big downside was just how 90s it is visually.
The 90s were a weird time for superhero character design and this book features all of its worst aspects (well, except for that Invisible Woman costume that left her mostly naked, I guess), with lots of spiky costumes and way, way too many belts and pouches. This may seem like an odd nitpick, but honestly the art in this book, whilst not bad, still spoils the deeper issues that the narrative is trying to convey.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com *
What I really liked about this book was the way it dealt with the titular super-teams having to take a long hard look at where their political obligations conflict with their desire and duty to protect the innocent.
For the X-Men, already mostly on the wrong side of the law, it means having to fight against the mutates that they once liberated in order to protect Genosha's humans from genocide. On the other hand, the Avengers find themselves hampered by their UN mandate and deciding that going rogue is better than stepping aside and allowing mass slaughter (it's a theme nicely explored in the MCU in 'Captain America: Civil War' too).
And woven through the larger conflict is the complex legacy of Magneto, supervillain, arch-enemy and sometime ally of the X-Men and father of two Avengers.
For me this book's one big downside was just how 90s it is visually.
The 90s were a weird time for superhero character design and this book features all of its worst aspects (well, except for that Invisible Woman costume that left her mostly naked, I guess), with lots of spiky costumes and way, way too many belts and pouches. This may seem like an odd nitpick, but honestly the art in this book, whilst not bad, still spoils the deeper issues that the narrative is trying to convey.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.com *
January 16, 2019
I love the Avengers movies in the MCU, but have never been a fan of the books. Although this crossover is epic (the Avengers working alongside the X-Men, as they both commemorate their 30th anniversaries), the story fell flat, to me.
This is a direct follow-up to the events of Fatal Attractions, and brings the Avengers into the fold as the X-Men go to Genosha to try and address civil unrest. Crystal and Quicksilver's kid is kidnapped by Fabian Cortez, and there is an all-out battle between Mutants/Mutates/Humans and even SHIELD. Exodus makes his presence felt and fights just about everyone too!
Definitely not a fan of the character (Exodus).
All said, a mediocre read, but great arwork. Oh, and Uncanny...please stop doing the sideways panels...
This is a direct follow-up to the events of Fatal Attractions, and brings the Avengers into the fold as the X-Men go to Genosha to try and address civil unrest. Crystal and Quicksilver's kid is kidnapped by Fabian Cortez, and there is an all-out battle between Mutants/Mutates/Humans and even SHIELD. Exodus makes his presence felt and fights just about everyone too!
Definitely not a fan of the character (Exodus).
All said, a mediocre read, but great arwork. Oh, and Uncanny...please stop doing the sideways panels...
September 29, 2013
A typical versus story with ever escalating power struggles, but the teethy grimace artwork worked against it.
June 19, 2012
Ah, comics from the 1990s. In this five-part Avengers/X-Men mash-up, the mutant nation of Genosha has become an exploding powder keg. Led by former Acolyte Fabian Cortez, the nation is in the grip of civil war - and Cortez's human shield is none other than Magneto's granddaughter. Crystal and Scarlet Witch lead a defiant Avengers against a UN sanction to retrieve Crystal's daughter; Quicksilver teams with the X-Men in order to do the same. As both teams converge on Cortez, the powerful mutant Exodus arrives and threatens to end it all with his abilities (in the name of Magneto, of course). As just another crossover event run by the X-office in order to help boost sales on the Avengers, Bloodties is simply a terrible story. The Fatal Attractions arc barely had time to settle! While I do appreciate Revanche getting a chance to make a few panel appearances, I have to just cut ties with Bloodties.
June 26, 2015
"There's also some heavy allusion to Concentration Camps, fighting God-like beings, and so many other things. It's an amazing book with a lot more to offer than just funny-book men beating up each other. I encourage anyone to go check it out. "
Read the rest of this and many more reviews at The Book Closet dot com!
Read the rest of this and many more reviews at The Book Closet dot com!
March 16, 2014
Legami di sangue è una saga che parte da una buona idea ma non realizza nulla di quel che promette. La trama è confusa e a tratti insensata, i disegni sonp troppo inutilmente stile image.
January 29, 2016
Se volete leggere la mia recensione, cliccate qui!: http://ascwblog.blogspot.it/2016/01/a...
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews